第60章
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  ChapterVIII。

  PERFECTPEACEATBERLIN,WARALLROUND。

  Friedrich,withtheSpectreofinevitableWardailyadvancingonhim,tohimprivatelyevidentandcertainifasyettohimonly,neglectsinnosorttheArtsandbusinessofPeace,butispresent,alwayswithvividactivity,inthecommonmovement,seriousorgayandfestive,asthedaybringsit。DuringtheseWintermonthsof1743,andstillmorethroughSummer1744,thereareimportantWar—

  movementsgoingon,——theFrenchvehementlyactiveagain,theAustriansnothingbehindhand,——whichwillrequiresomeslightnoticefromussoon。ButinBerlin,alongsideofallthis,itismerecommonbusiness,diligentasever,alternatingwithCarnivalgayeties,withmarryings,givingsinmarriage;inBerlintheregoeson,underhalcyonweather,thepeaceabletideofthings,sometimesinahighfashion,asifBerlinanditsKinghadnoconcernwiththeforeignWar。

  ThePlauenCanal,animportantnavigation—work,canalofsomethirtymiles,joiningHaveltoElbeinaconvenientmanner,orevenjoiningOdertoElbe,isatitsbusiest:——\"itwasbegunJune1st,1743[allhandsdiligentlydiggingthere,June27th,whilesomeothersofuswereemployedatDettingen,——thinkofit!],andwasfinishedJune5th,1745。\"[Busching,Erdbeschreibung,vi。2192。]Thisisoneofseveralsuchworksnowafoot。

  Takeanothermiscellaneousitemortwo。

  January,1744,Friedrichappoints,andbrieflyinformsallhisPeopleofit,ThatanyPrussiansubjectwhothinkshimselfaggrieved,maycomeandtellhisstorytotheKing’sownself:

  [\"January,1744\"(Rodenbeck,i。98)。]——betterhavehisstoryinfirmsuccinctstate,Ishouldimagine,andsuchthatitwillholdwater,intellingittotheKing!ButtheKingisreadytohearhim;heartilyeagertogetjusticedonehim。Asuitableboon,suchPermission,tillLaw—Reformtakeeffect。AndafterLaw—Reformhadfinished,itwasathingfoundsuitable;andcontinuedtotheend,——curioustoaBritishreadertoconsider!

  Again:onFriedrich’sbirthday,24thJanuary,1744,thenewAcademyofScienceshad,intheSchlossofBerlin,itsfirstSession。

  Butofthis,——intheabsenceofMaupertuis,FlatteneroftheEarth,whoisstillinFrance,sincethatMollwitzadventure;byandforbehoofofwhom,whenhedidreturn,andbecome\"PerpetualFirstPresident,\"manychangesweremade,——Iwillnotspeakatpresent。

  Norindeedafterwards,exceptongoodchancerising;——thenewAcademy,withitsPerpetualFirstPresident,beingnothinglikesosublimeanobjectnow,toreadersandme,asitthenwastoitselfandPerpetualPresidentandRoyalPatron!VapidFormeyisPerpetualSecretary;morepowertohim,astheIrishsay。PoorGoldstickPollnitzisanHonoraryMember;——absentatthistimeinBaireuth,wherethosegigglingMarwitzesofWilhelmina’shavebeencontrivingamarriagefortheoldfool。Ofwhichanotherwordsoon:ifwehavetime。Timecannotbespentonthosedimsmallobjects:buttherearetwoMarriagesofahighorder,ofpurportsomewhatHistorical;

  thereisBarberinatheDancer,throwingaflashthroughtheOperaticandsomeotherprovinces:letusrestrictourselvestothese,andthelikeofthese,andbebriefuponthem。

  THESUCCESSIONINRUSSIA,ANDALSOINSWEDEN,SHALLNOTBE

  HOSTILETOUS:TWOROYALMARRIAGES,ARUSSIANANDA

  SWEDISH,AREACCOMPLISHEDATBERLIN,WITHSUCHVIEW。

  MarriageFirst,ofaneminentlyHistoricalnature,isaltogetherRussian,orGermanbecomeRussian,thoughFriedrichismuchconcernedinit。WeheardofthemadSwedish—RussianWar;andhowCzarinaElizabethwaskindenoughtochooseaSuccessortotheoldchildlessSwedishKing,——LandgrafofHessen—Casselbynature;

  whohashadasorrytimeinSweden,butkeptmerryanddidnotminditmuch,pooroldsoul。CzarinaElizabeth’sonecarewas,ThatthePrinceofDenmarkshouldnotbechosentosucceed,astherewastalkofhisbeing:Sweden,Denmark,Norway,allgraspedinonefirmhand(asintheold\"Union—of—Calmar\"times,onlywithbettermanagement),mightbedangeroustoRussia。\"Don’tchoosehimofDenmark!\"saidElizabeth,thevictoriousCzarina;andmadeitaconditionofgrantingPeace,andmostlyrestoringFinland,totheinfatuatedSwedes。Thepersontheydidchoose,——satisfactorytotheCzarina,andwhoultimatelydidbecomeKingofSweden,——wasoneAdolfFriedrich;aHolstein—GottorpPrince,comeofRoyalkin,andcousinrytoKarlXII。:heis\"BishopofLubeck\"orofEutin,sostyled;nowinhisthirty—thirdyear;andatleastdrawingtherevenuesofthatSee,thoughIthink,notecclesiasticallygiven,butlivingoftenerinHamburg,thethenfashionableresortofthoseNorthernGrandees。Onthewhole,alikelyyounggentleman;

  acceptedbypartiesconcerned;——andsurelygoodenoughfortheOfficeasitnowis。Ofwhom,forareasoncoming,letreaderstakenote,inthisplace。

  Aboveayearbeforethistime,CzarinaElizabeth,aprovidentfemale,anddeterminednottowed,hadpitcheduponherownSuccessor:[7thNovember,1742(Michaelis,ii。627)。]oneKarlPeterUlrich;whowasalsoofthesameHolstein—Gottorpset,thoughwithRussianbloodinhim。HisGrandfatherwasfullcousin,andchosencomrade,toKarlXII。;gotkilledinKarl’sRussianWars;

  andleftapoorSondependentonRussianPetertheGreat,——whogavehimoneofhisDaughters;whencethisKarlPeterUlrich,anorphan,deartohisAunttheCzarina。AKarlPeterUlrich,whobecametragicallyfamousasCzarPeterFederowitz,orCzarPeterIII。,inthecourseoftwentyyears!HisFatherandMotherarebothdead;

  lovingAunthassnatchedthepoorboyoutofHolstein—Gottorp,whichisanarrowsphere,intoRussia,whichiswideenough;

  shehashadhimconvertedtotheGreekChurch,namedhimPeterFederowitz,HeirandSuccessor;——andnow,wishingtoseehimmarried,hasearnestlyconsultedFriedrichuponit。

  Friedrichisdecidedlyinterested;wouldgrudgemuchtoseeanAnti—PrussianPrincess,forinstanceaSaxonPrincess(oneofwhomissaidtoBetrying),putintothisimportantstation!Afteralittlethought,hefixes,——doesthereaderknowuponwhom?

  Readersperhaps,hereandthere,havesomerecollectionofaPrussianGeneral,whoisTitularPrinceofAnhalt—Zerbstonhisownscore;andisactualCommandantofStettininFriedrich’sservice,andhasdoneagreatdealofgoodfortificationthereandothergoodwork。InsteadofTitular,hehasnowlately,bydeceaseofanElderBrother,becomeActualorSemi—Actual(aBrotherjoinedwithhiminthepoorHeirship);livesoccasionallyintheSchlossofZerbst;butisgladtoretainStettinasasolidsupplement。

  HisWife,letthereadernotefarther,isSistertotheabove—

  mentionedAdolfFriedrich,\"BishopofLubeck,\"nowHeir—ApparenttoSweden,——inwhom,aswillsoonappear,weareotherwiseinterested。

  Wifeseemstomeanairyflightykindoflady,high—paced,nottoosure—paced,——weakevidentlyinFrenchgrammar,andperhapsinhumansensewithal:——buttheyhaveaDaughter,Sophie—Frederike,nownearfifteen,andveryforwardforherage;comelytolookupon,wisetolistento:\"Isnotshethesuitableone?\"thinksFriedrich,inregardtothismatter。\"Herkindredisoftheoldest,oldasAlberttheBear;shehasbeenfrugallybroughtup,Spartan—like,thoughasaPrincessbybirth:letherceaseskippiugropesontherampartsyonder,withheryoungStettinplaymates;andprepareforbeingaCzarinaoftheRussias,\"thinkshe。AndcommunicateshismindtotheCzarina;whoanswers,\"Excellent!HowdidIneverthinkofthatmyself?\"

  Andso,onoraboutNew—year’sday,1744,whiletheCommandantofStettinandhisairySpousearedoingChristmasattheiroldSchlossofZerbst,theresuddenlycomeEstafettes;ExpressesfromPetersburg,heraldedbyExpressfromFriedrich:——withtheastonishingproposal,\"CzarinawishingthehonorofavisitfromMadamandDaughter;nodoubt,withsuchandsuchintentionsintherear。\"[Friedrich’sLetterstoMadamofZerbst(dateofthefirstofthem,30thDecember,1743),inOEuvres,

  xxv。579—589。]Madam,norDaughter,isnothingloath;——theoldCommandantgrumblesinhisbeard,notpositivelyforbidding:andinthismanner,afteraLetterortwoinimperfectgrammar,MadamandDaughterappearinCarnivalsocietyatBerlin,charmingobjectsboth;butdonotstaylong;infact,stayonlytilltheirmoneysandarrangementsarefurnishedthem。Uponwhich,inallsilence,theymakeforPetersburg,forMoscow;travelrapidly,arrivesuccessfully,inspiteofthegrimseason。[\"AtMoscow,7th(18th)

  February,1744。\"]ConversiontotheGreekReligion,changeofnamefromSophie—FrederiketoCatherine—Alexiewna(\"LetitbeCatherine,\"saidElizabeth,\"mydearmother’sname!\"——littlebrownCzarina’s,whomwehaveseen):——allthiswascompletedbythe12thofJulyfollowing。And,infine,nextyear(September1st,1745),PeterFederowitzandthissameCatherine—Alexiewna,second—cousinsbyblood,werevouchsafedtheNuptialBenediction,and,withinvocationoftheRussianHeavenandRussianEarth,weredeclaredtobeoneflesh,[Ranke,iii。129;MemoiresdeCatherineII。(Catherine’sownverycuriousbitofAutobiography;——publishedbyMr。Herzen,London,1859),pp。7—46。]

  ——thoughatlasttheyturnedouttobeTWOFLESHES,asmyreaderwellknows!Someeighteenornineteenyearshence,wemaylookinuponthemagain,iftherebeamomenttospare。ThisisMarriagefirst;apurelyRussianone;builttogetherandlaunchedonitscourse,sotosay,byFriedrichatBerlin,whohadhisowninterestinit。

  MarriageSecond,doneatBerlininthesamemonths,wasofstillmoreinterestingsorttoFriedrichandus:thatofPrincessUlriquetotheabove—namedAdolfFriedrich,futureKingofSweden。

  Marriagewhichwentonpreparingitselfbythesideoftheother;

  andwasoftwinimportancewithitinregardtotheRussianQuestion。TheSwedishMarriagewasnotheardof,exceptinimportantwhispers,duringtheCarnivaltime;butaSwedishMinisterhadalreadycometoBerlinonit,andwasbusyfirstinasilentandexamining,theninaspeakingandproposingway。

  Itseems,theCzarinaherselfhadsuggestedthething,asacounter—politenesstoFriedrich;socontentwithhimatthistime。

  AthingwelcometoFriedrich。And,induecourse(\"June,1744\"),therecomesexpressSwedishEmbassy,someRodenskjoldorTessin,withaveryshiningtrainofSwedes,\"TodemandPrincessUlriqueinmarriageforourFutureKing。\"

  Towhichthereisassent,bynomeansdenial,intheproperquarter。Whereupon,afterthewide—spreadnecessaryfuglingsandpreliminaries,thereoccurs(allbyProcuration,BrotherAugustWilhelmdoingtheBridegroom’spart),\"July17th,1744,\"theMarriageitself:alldone,thislastact,andtheforegoingonesandthefollowing,withagrandeurandasplendor——unspeakable,wemaysay,inshort。[Helden—Geschichte,ii。

  1045—1051。]FantasticBielfeldtaxeshispoorrougedMusetotheutmost,onthisoccasion;andbecomespositivelywearisome,chantingtheupholsteriesoflife;——foolishfellow,spoilinghisbitsoffactswithal,bymisrecollections,andevenbyexpressfictionsthrowninasgarnish。Sothat,beyondthegeneralimpression,giveninahigh—rougedstate,thereisnothingtobedependedon。OneSceneoutofhismany,whichrepresentstousonthosetermsthefinale,oractualDepartureofPrincessUlrique,weshalloffer,——withcorrections(afew,notALL);——havingnothingbetterorotheronthesubject:——

  \"But,infine,thedayofdeparturedidarrive,\"——eveofitdid:

  25thJuly,1744;hourofstartingtobe2A。M。to—morrow。\"TheKinghadnominatedGrand—MarshalGrafvanGotter[sameGotterwhomwesawatViennaonce:KinghadappointedGotterandtwoothers;

  nottosaythattwoofthePrincess’sBrothers,withherSistertheMargravineofSchwedt,weretoaccompanyasfarasSchwedt:sixinall;thoughone’spoormemoryfailsoneonsomeoccasions!]——toescortthePrincesstoStralsund,wheretwoSwedishSenatorsanddifferenthighLordsandLadiesawaitedher。HerMajestytheQueen—

  Mother,judgingbythemovementsofherownheartthatthemomentofseparationwouldproduceascenedifficulttobear,hadorderedanOperatodivertourchagrin;and,insteadofsupper,asuperbcollationENAMBIGU[kindofsupper—breakfast,Isuppose],inthegreatHallofthePalace。HerMajesty’splanwas,ThePrincess,oncomingfromtheOpera,should,almostonflight,tasteamorsel;

  takehertravellingequipment,embraceherkinsfolk,dashintohercarriage,andgoofflikelightning。HerrGrafvonGotterwaschargedwithexecutingthisdesign,andwithhurryingthedeparture。

  \"Butalltheseprecautionswerevain。TheincomparableUlriquewastoodeartoherFamilyandtoherCountry,tobepartedwithforever,withouthermeedoftearsfromtheminthosecruelinstants。OnenteringtheOpera—Hall,Inoticedeverywhereprevalentanairofsorrow,ofsombremelancholy。ThePrincessappearedinAmazon—dress[riding—habit,say],ofrose—colortrimmedwithsilver;thelittlevest,turnedupwithgreen—blue(CELADON),andcollarofthesame;alittlebonnet,Englishfashion,ofblackvelvet,withawhiteplumetoit;herhairfloating,andtiedwitharose—coloredribbon。ShewasbeautifulasLove:butthisdress,soelegant,andsowellsettingoffhercharms,onlythemoresensiblyawakenedourregretstoloseher;andannouncedthatthehourwascome,inwhichallthisappearedamongusforthelasttime。Atthesecondact,youngPrinceFerdinand[YoungestBrother,FatheroftheJENAFerdinand]enteredtheRoyalBox;andflinginghimselfonthePrincess’sneckwithaburstoftears,said,’Ah,mydearUlrique,itisover,then;andIshallneverseeyoumore!’

  Thesewordswereasignalgiventothegriefwhichwasshutinallhearts,toburstforthwiththegreatestvehemence。ThePrincessrepliedonlywithsobs;holdingherBrotherinherarms。TheTwoQueenscouldnotrestraintheirtears;thePrincesandPrincessesfollowedtheexample:griefisepidemical;itgaineddirectlyalltheBoxesofthefirstrank,wheretheCourtandNobilitywere。

  Eachhadhisowncausesofregret,andeachmeltedintotears。

  NobodypaidtheleastattentionfarthertotheOpera;andformyownshare,Iwasgladtoseeitend。

  \"AninvoluntarymovementtookmetowardsthePalace。IenteredtheKing’sApartments,andfoundtheRoyalFamilyandpartoftheCourtassembled。Griefhadreacheditsheight;everybodyhadhishandkerchiefout;andIwitnessedemotionsquiteotherwiseaffectingthanthosethatTheatricArtcanproduce。TheKinghadcomposedanOdeonthePrincess’sdeparture;biddingherhislastadieusinthemosttenderandtouchingmanner。Itbeginswiththesewords:——

  ’Partez,maSoeur,partez;

  LaSuedevousattend,laSuedevousdesire,’

  ’Go,mySister,go;

  Swedenwaitsyou,Swedenwishesyou。

  [Doesnotnowexist(seeOEuvresdeFrederic,

  xiv。88,andib。PREFACEp。xv)。]

  HisMajestygaveitheratthemomentwhenshewasabouttotakeleaveoftheTwoQueens。[No,Monsieur,notthen;itcametoherhandthesecondeveninghence,atSchwedt;[HerownLettertoFriedrich(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxvii。372;

  \"Schwedt,28thJuly,1744\")。]mostlikelynotyetwrittenatthetimeyoufabulouslygive;——youfoolishfantast,and\"artist\"oftheSHAM—kind!]——ThePrincessthrewhereyesonit,andfellintoafaint[No,youSham,notforIT]:theKinghadalmostdonethelike。Histearsflowedabundantly。ThePrincesandPrincesseswereovercomewithsorrow。Atlast,Gotterjudgedittimetoputanendtothistragicscene。HeenteredtheHall,almostlikeBoreasintheBalletofTHEROSE;thatistosay,withacrash。Hemadeoneortwowhirlwinds;clovethepress,andsnatchedawaythePrincessfromthearmsoftheQueen—Mother,tookherinhisown,andwhiskedheroutoftheHall。Alltheworldfollowed;thecarriageswerewaitinginthecourt;andthePrincessinamomentfoundherselfinhers。Iwasinsuchastate,Iknownothowwegotdownstairs;

  Irememberonlythatitwasinaconcertoflamentablesobbings。

  MadamtheMargrafinvonSchwedt,whohadbeennamedtoattendthePrincesstoStralsund[readSchwedt]ontheSwedishfrontier,thishighLadyandthetwoDamesd’AtourswhowereforSwedenitself,havingsprungintothesamecarriage,thedoorofitwasshutwithaslam;thepostillionscracked,thecarriageshotaway,——andhidtheadorableUlriquefromtheeyesofKingandCourt,whoremainedmotionlessforsomeminutes,overcomebytheirfeelings。\"

  [Bielfeld,ii。107—110。]

  WesaidthisMarriagewasliketheother,importantforPublicAffairs。Infact,securityontheRussianandSwedishsideisalwaysanobjectwithFriedrichwhenundertakingwar。\"ThattheFrenchbringabout,helpmetobringabout,aTripleAllianceofPrussia,Russia,Sweden:\"thiswasathingFriedrichhadbargainedtoseedone,beforejoiningintheWarahead:butbytheseTwoEspousalsFriedrichhopeshehashimselfasgoodasdoneit。

  OfpoorPrincessUlriqueandhergloriousreceptioninSweden(afternearmissofshipwreck,intheSwedishFrigatefromStralsund),weshallsaynothingmoreatpresent:exceptthatherglories,allalong,weremuchdashedbychagrins,anddangerousimminenciesofshipwreck,——whichlatterdidnotquiteovertakeHER,butdidhersonsandgrandsons,beinginevitableornearlyso,inthatelement,inthecourseoftime。

  SisterAmelia,whomsomethoughtdisappointed,asperhaps,inherfoolishthought,shemightalittlebe,wasmadeAbbessofQuedlinburg,whichopulentbeneficehadfallenvacant;and,thereoratBerlin,livedarespectableSpinster—life,doubtlessoneasiertermsthanUlrique’s。AlwaysmuchlovedbyherBrother,andlovinghim(and\"takingcareofhisshirts,\"inthefinaltimes);

  notedinsociety,forhersharptongueandways。ConcerningwhomThiebaultandhisTrenckromancesareworthnonotice,——ifitbenotwithhorsewhipsonopportunity。SCANDALUMMAGNATUM,whereyourMagnatesareNOTfallenquitecounterfeit,wasandisalways(thoughfewnowreflectonit)amostpunishablecrime。

  GLANCEATTHEBELLIGERENTPOWERS;BRITANNICMAJESTY

  NARROWLYMISSESANINVASIONTHATMIGHTHAVEBEENDANGEROUS

  PrincessUlriquewashardlyyethomeinSweden,whenherBrotherhadactuallygoneforthupontheWarsagain!Sodifferentisoutsidefrominterior,nowandthen。\"Whilethedancingandthemarriage—festivitieswentonatCourt,we,inprivate,werebusilycompletingthepreparationsforaCampaign,\"dreamedofbynomortal,\"whichwasonthepointofbeingopened。\"[OEuvresdeFrederic,iii。41。]July2d,threeweeksbeforePrincessUlriqueleft,acertainAdventureofPrinceKarl’sintheRhineCountrieshadaccomplisheditself(ofwhichinthefollowingBook);andFriedrichcoulddiscernclearlythatthemomentdrewrapidlynigh。

  OntheFrenchsideoftheWar,therehasbeenvisible——sincethosehighattemptsofBritannicGeorgeandtheHungarianMajesty,contumeliouslyspurningthePeaceofferedthem,andgraspingevidentlyatone’sLorraines,Alsaces,andThreeBishoprics——amarkedchange;comfortabletolookatfromFriedrich’sside。

  MostChristianMajesty,fromthesadbentattitudeofinsultedrepentance,hasstartedupintotheperpendicularoneofindignation:\"Comeon,then!\"——andreallymakesefforts,thisYear,quitebeyondexpectation。\"Oriflammeenterprises,privateintentionsofcuttingGermanyinFour;well,havenotIsmartedforthem;asgoodasownedtheywererathermad?Buttohavemyapologyspitupon;buttobemyselfpubliclycutinpiecesforthem?\"

  March15h,1744,MostChristianMajestydid,aswesaw,dulydeclareWaragainstEngland;againstAustria,April26th:

  \"England,\"hesays,\"brokeitsConventionofNeutrality(signed27thSeptember,1741);brokesaidConvention[aswasverynatural,notermbeingset]directlyafterMailleboiswasgone;England,byitsMediterraneanAdmiralsandthelike,has,toadegreebeyondenduring,insultedtheFrenchcoasts,harborsandroyalNavy:

  WedeclareWaronEngland。\"Andthen,sixweekshence,inregardtoAustria:\"Austria,refusingtomakePeacewithavirtuousKaiser,whomwe,forthesakeofpeace,hadmagnanimouslyhelped,andthenmagnanimouslyceasedtohelp;——Austriarefusespeacewithhimorus;onthecontrary,Austriaattempts,andhasattempted,toinvadeFranceitself:Wetherefore,onandfromthis26thofApril,1744,lettheworldnoteit,areatWarwithAustria。\"[In

  Adelung,iv。78,90,thetwoManifestoesgiven。]

  BoththesepromisestoFriedricharepunctuallyperformed。

  Nor,whatisfarmoreimportant,havethenecessarypreparationsbeenneglected;butareonaquiteunheard—ofscale。Suchtaxingandfinancieringtherehasbeen,lastWinter:——taxonyourstreet—

  lamp,onyourfire—wood,increasedexciseonmeatandeatablesofallkinds:Bepatient,yepoor;considerGLOIRE,andanORIFLAMME

  sotrampledonbytheAustrianHeathen!Eatables,street—lamps,doIsay?Thereis36,000pounds,raisedbyataxon——well,onGARDEROBES(nottranslated)!Asmallhelp,butahelp:NONOLET,NONOLEAT。TowhatdepthshasOriflammecomedown!——Theresultis,thisSpringof1744,indignantFrancedoes,byland,andevenbysea,makeanappearancecalculatedtoastonishGazetteersandmen。

  Land—forces160,000actuallyonfoot:80,000(growsatlastinto100,000,foralittlewhile)as\"ArmyoftheNetherlands,\"——toprickintoAustria,andastonishEnglandandtheDutchBarrier,inthatquarter。Oftherest,20,000underContiareforItaly;

  60,000(bydegrees40,000)underCoignyfordefenceoftheRhineCountries,shouldPrinceKarl,asissurmisable,makenewattemptsthere。[Adelung,iv。78;Espagnac,ii。3。]

  Andbesidesallthis,thereareTwostrongFleets,gotactuallylaunched,notyetintothedeepsea,butreadyforit:oneinToulonHarbor,toavengethoseMediterraneaninsults;andburstout,inconcertwithanimpatientSpanishFleet(whichhaslainblockadedhereforayearpast),ontheinsolentblockadingEnglish:whichwasinsomesortdone。[\"19thFebruary,1744,\"

  FrenchandSpanishFleetsrunout;22dFeb。areattackedbyMatthewsandLestock;areratherbeaten,notbeatennearlyenough(MatthewsandLestockblamingoneanother,SpaniardsandFrenchditto,ditto:Adelung,iv。32—35);withtheendlessjanglings,correspondings,court—martialingsthatensue(Beatson,

  NavalandMilitaryMemoirs,i。197etseqq。;

  Gentleman’sMagazine,andOldNewspapers,for1744;&c。&c。)。]TheotherstrongFleet,twentysailoftheline,underAdmiralRoquefeuille,isinBrestHarbor,——intendedforastillmoredelicateoperation;ofwhichanon。SurelyKingFriedrichoughttoadmitthatthesearefinesymptoms?KingFriedrichhasfreelydoneso,allalong;intendingtostrikeinattherightmoment。Letussee,alittle,howthingshavegone;andhowtherightmomenthasbeenadvancinginlatemonths。

  JANUARY17th,1744,TherelandedatAntibesonFrenchsoilayounggentleman,byname\"ContediSpinelli,\"directfromGenoa,fromRome;younggentlemanseeminglyofsmallimportance,butintrinsicallyofconsiderable;whohastenedoffforParis,andtheredisappeared。DisappearedintosubterraneanconsultationswiththehighestOfficialpeople;intendingreappearancewithemphasisatDunkirk,afewweekshence,inmuchmoreemphaticposture。

  AndallthroughFebruarythereisobservableabriskdiligenceofWar—preparation,atDunkirk:transport—shipsinquantity,finallyfourwar—ships;15,000chosentroops,graduallymarchingin;

  nearlyallonboard,withtheirequipments,bytheendofthemonth。

  ClearlyanInvadingArmyintendedsomewhither,Englandjudgestoowellwhither。Anti—EnglishArmament;tobeledby,whomthinksthereader?Thatsame\"ContediSpinelli,\"whoisCharlesEdwardtheYoungPretender,——ComtedeSaxecommandingunderhim!Thisisnofable;itisafact,somewhatformidable;broughtabout,theysay,byoneCardinalTencin,anOfficialPersonofcelebrityinthethenVersaillesworld;whooweshisredhat(whateversuchdebtreallybe)tooldJacobiteinfluence,exertedforhimatRome;andtakesthismethodofpayinghisdebtandhiscourtatonce。Gets,namely,hisproposal,ofaCharles—EdwardInvasionofEngland,todovetailinwiththeotherwideartilleriesnowbentonlittleGeorgeinthewaywesee。HadnotlittleGeorgebetterhavestayedathomeoutofthesePragmaticWars?Fifteenthousand,aidedbythenativeJacobitehosts,undercommandofSaxe,——aSaxeagainstaWadeisfearfulodds,——maymakesomefigureinEngland!Wehopealwaystheywillnotbeabletoland。Imaginationmayconceivetheflurry,ifnotofBritannicmankind,atleastofBritannicMajestyandhisOfficialPeople,andwhatastiranddintheymade:——ofwhichthisisthecompressedupshot。

  \"SATURDAY,1stMARCH,1744。Fornearlyaweekpast,therehasbeenseenhangingaboutintheChannel,anddangerouslyhoveringtoandfro[hadenteredbytheLand’s—End,wasfirstnoticedonSundaylast\"nightheEddistone\"]aconsiderableFrenchFleet,sixteengreatships;withfourorfivemore,probablybelongingtoit,whichnowlieoffDunkirk:theintentionofwhichistoowellknowninhighquarters。ThisisthegrandBrestFleet,AdmiralRoquefeuille’s;whichbelievesitcancommandtheChannel,inpresentcircumstances,theEnglishChannel—Fleetsbeinginadisjoinedcondition,——tillComtedeSaxe,withhisCharles—Edwardand15,000,doshipthemselvesacross!Greatalarminconsequence;

  ourWar—forces,40,000ofthem,allinGermany;nottheleastpreparationtoreceiveanInvasiveArmament。ComtedeSaxeisveritablyatDunkirk,sinceSaturday,March1st:busyshippinghis15,000;equipmentsmostlyshipped,andabout10,000ofthemen:

  allisactivitythere;RoquefeuillehangingaboutDungeness,withfourofhistwentygreatshipsdetachedformoreimmediateprotectionofSaxeandthoseDunkirkindustries。Tomeetwhich,oldAdmiralNorris,offandontowardstheNoreandtheForelands,hasbeendoinghisbesttorallyforceabouthim;hopeshewillnowbematchforRoquefeuille:——butifheshouldnot?

  \"THURSDAY,6thMARCH。AfternoonofMarch5th,oldAdmiralNorris,hopinghewasatlengthinsomethinglikeequality,’tideditroundtheSouthForeland;’sawRoquefeuillehanging,infulltale,withinfewmiles;——andatonceplungedintohim?No,reader;notatonce,norindeedatall。Agreatsea—fightwasexpected;butouroldNorristhoughtitlateintheday;——and,ineffect,nofightprovedneedful。Daylightwasnotyetsunk,whenthererosefromthenorth—

  eastwardaheavygale;blewallnight,andbysixnextmorningwasaragingstorm;hadblownRoquefeuillequiteawayoutofthosewaters(fractionsofhimupontherocksofGuernsey);hadtumbledComtedeSaxe’sTransportsbottomuppermost(sotospeak),inDunkirkRoads;——and,infact,hadblowntheEnterpriseoverthehorizon,andrelievedtheOfficialBritannicmindintheusualmiraculousmanner。

  \"M。leComtedeSaxe——whohad,bysuperhumanactivity,savednearlyallhismen,inthathideoustopsy—turvyoftheTransportsandmunitions——returnedstraightway,andmuchmoreM。leComtedeSpinelliwithhim,toParis。ComtedeSaxewasdirectlythereuponmadeMarechaldeFrance;appointedtobeColleagueofNoaillesintheensuingNetherlandsCampaign。’ComtedeSpinelliwenttolodgewithhisUncle,theCardinalGrand—AlmonerFitz—James’[azealousgentleman,ofinfluencewiththeHolyFather],andthereinprivacytowaitotherchancesthatmightrise。’The1,500silvermedals,thathadbeenstruckfordistributioninGreatBritain,’fell,forthistime,intothemelting—potagain。[Tindal,xxi。22(mostlyapuddleofinaccuracies,asusual);Espagnac,i。213;

  Gentleman’sMagazine,xiv。106,&c。;Barbier,ii。382,385,388。]

  \"Greatstir,inBritishParliamentandPublic,therehadlatterlybeenonthismatter:Arrestmentofsuspectedpersons,banishmentofallCatholicstenmilesfromLondon;likewiseregisteringofhorses(togallopwithcannonwhitherwanted);likewiseimprovisingofcavalryregimentsbypersonsofcondition,’Setourplushpeopleonourcoach—horses;there!’[Yes,THEREwillbeaCavalry,——inferiortoGeneralZiethen’s!];andwereactuallydrillingtheminseveralplaces,whenthatfortunateblastofstorm(March6th)bleweverythingtoquietagain。Field—marshalEarlofStair,inregardtotheScottishpopulations,hadshownanoblemagnanimity;

  whichwasrecognized:andaGeneralSirJohnCoperodeoff,post—

  haste,totakethechiefcommandinthatCountry;——where,inabouteighteenmonthshence,hemadeaveryshiningthingofit!\"——TakethisotherCuttingfromtheOldNewspapers:——

  \"FRIDAY,31st(20th)MARCH,1744,AgeneralpressbeganforrecruitinghisMajesty’sregiments,andmanningtheFleet;

  whenupwardsof1,000menweresecuredinthejailsofLondonandWestminster;beingallowedsixpenceaheadperdiem,bytheCommissionersoftheLand—tax,whoexaminethem,andsendthoseawaythatarefoundfitforhisMajesty’sservice。ThesamemethodwastakenineachCounty。\"Pressceases;enoughbeinggot,——pressnomoretillfartherorder:5th(16th)June。[Gentleman’sMagazinefor1744,pp。226,333。]

  BritannicMajestyshakenbysuchomens,doesnotinpersonvisitGermanyatallthisYear;nor,byhisDeputies,atallshineonthefieldsofWaraslately。He,hisEnglishandhe,didindeedcomedownwiththeircashinapromptandmanfulmanner,butshowedlittleotheractivitythisyear。TheirtroopswerealreadyintheNetherlands,sinceWinterlast;lednowbyaField—marshalWade,ofwhomonehasheard;towhomjoinedthemselvescertainAustrians,underDucd’Ahremberg,andcertainDutch,undersomeothermanincocked—hat:thewholeofwhom,underMarshalWade’schiefguidance,didasgoodasnothingwhatever。\"Inferiorinforce!\"criedMarshalWade;anindolentincompetentoldgentleman,frightfultoseeincommandoftroops:\"inferiorinforce!\"criedhe,whichwasnotatfirstquitethecase。Andwhen,byadditionstohimself,anddeductions(ofamostunexpectednature)fromhisEnemy,hehadbecomenearlydoubleinforce,itwasallthesame:MarshalWade(againstwhomindeedwasMarechaldeSaxe,nowinsolecommand,asweshallsee)tookshelterinsafeplaces,witnessingtherefromtheswiftdestructionoftheNetherlands,andwouldattemptnothing。

  WhichindeedwasperhapsprudentontheMarshal’spart。Muchmoneywasspent,andmenenoughdidpuddlethemselvestodeathontheclayroads,orbivouackinginthesafeswamps;butnottheleaststrokeofbattlewasgotoutofthemunderthisoldMarshal。

  Hadperhaps\"adividedcommand,thoughnominalChief,\"pooroldgentleman;——yes,andaheadthatunderstoodnothingofhisbusinesswithal。Oneofthosesameastonishing\"Generals\"oftheEnglish,nowbecomingknowninNaturalHistory;thelikeofwhom,tillwithinthesehundredandfiftyyears,werenotheardofamongsaneNations。SaxeVERSUSWadeisfearfulodds。TojudgebythewaySaxehasofhandlingWade,maynotwethankHeaventhatitwasnotHERE

  inEnglandthetrialcameon!Liftupbothyourhands,andbless——notGeneralWade,quiteyet。

  THEYOUNGDUKEOFWURTEMBERGGETSAVALEDICTORYADVICE;

  ANDPOLLNITZADITTOTESTIMONIAL(February6th;April1st,1744)。

  February7th,1744,KarlEugen,theyoungDukeofWurtemberg,——

  Friedrichhavinggot,fromtheKaiser,dueDispensation(VENIA

  AETATIS)fortheyounggentleman,andhadhimdeclaredDukeRegnant,thoughonlysixteen,——quittedBerlinwithgreatpomp,forhisownCountry,onthaterrand。FriedrichhadhopedherebytosettletheWurtembergmattersonagoodfooting,andbesureofafriendinWurtembergtotheKaiserandhimself。Whichhope,likeeverybody’shopesaboutthisyounggentleman,wasentirelydisappointed;saidyounggentlemanhavinggotintoperverse,haughty,sulky,ill—conditionedways,andmadeabadLifeandReignofit,——bettertoliemostlyhiddenfromushenceforth,atleastformanyyearstocome。TheexcellentPartingLetterwhichFriedrichgavehimgotabroadintotheworld;waschristenedtheMIRROROFPRINCES,andgreatlyadmiredbymankind。ItisindeedanalmostfaultlessPieceofitskind;comprising,inaflowingyetpreciseway,withadmirablefrankness,sincerity,sagacity,succinctness,aWholeDutyofRegnantMan;[InOEuvresdeFrederic,ix。4—7。]——butIfearitwouldonlywearythereader;perfectADVICEhavingbecomesoplentifulinourEpoch,withlittlebut\"pavement\"toacertainLocalitytheconsequence!——

  Thereis,ofthesamemonths,aTESTIMONIALTOPOLLNITZ,whichalsogotabroadandhaditscelebrity:this,asspecimenofFriedrichonthecomicside,willperhapsbelessafflicting;anditwillridusofPollnitz,poorsoul,onhandsometerms。

  GoldstickPollnitzisatBaireuthinthesemonths;fallenquitedisconsolatesincewelastheardofhim。Hisfinemarriagewentawry,——richlady,verywisely,drawingback;——andthefoolisholdcreaturehasdecidedonREchanginghisreligion;whichhehaschangedalreadythriceorso,inhisvagabondstraits;forthepurposeof\"retiringtoaconvent\"thistime。Friedrich,incandidbriefmanner,roughbutwise,andnotwithoutsomekindnessforanolddogoneisusedto,hasanswered,\"Nonsense;thatwillneverdo!\"ButPollnitzpersisting;formallydemandingleavetodemit,andlaydownthegoldstick,withthatview,——FriedrichdoesatlengthsendhimCertificateofLeave;\"whichisdrawnoutwithalltheforms,andwasdespatchedthroughEicheltotheproperBoard;\"

  butwhichbearsdateAPRILFIRST,andthoughofficiallyvalid,isofquizzicalnature:———perhapsalreadyknowntosomereaders;

  havinggotintotheNewspapers,andwidelyabroad,atasubsequenttime。AsauthenticsampleofFriedrichinthatkind,hereitaccuratelyis,withonlyoneortwoslightabridgments,whichareindicated:——

  \"WhereastheBarondePollnitz,bornatBerlin[atKoln,ifitmadeanymatter],ofhonestparentssofarasWeknow,——afterhavingservedOurGrandfatherasGentlemanoftheChamber,Madamd’Orleans[wickedRegent’sMother,afamedGermanLady]inthesamerank,theKingofSpaininqualityofColonel,thedeceasedKaiserinthatofCaptainofHorse,thePopeasChamberlain,theDukeofBrunswickasChamberlain,DukeofWeimarasEnsign,ourFatherasChamberlain,and,infine,UsasGrandMasteroftheCeremonies,\"——has,inspiteofsuchaccumulationofhonors,becomedisgustedwiththeworld;

  andrequestsaPartingTestimony,tosupporthisgoodreputation,——

  \"We,rememberinghisimportantservicestotheHouse,indivertingfornineyearslongthelateKingourFather,anddoingthehonorsofourCourtduringthenowReign,cannotrefusesuchrequest;

  butdoherebycertify,ThatthesaidBaronhasneverassassinated,robbedonthehighway,poisoned,forciblycutpurses,ordoneotheratrocityorlegalcrimeatourCourt;buthasalwaysmaintainedgentlemanlybehavior,makingnotmorethanhonestuseoftheindustryandtalentshehasbeenendowedwithatbirth;

  imitatingtheobjectoftheDrama,thatis,correctingmankindbygentlequizzing;following,inthematterofsobriety,Boerhaave’scounsels;pushingChristiancharitysofarasoftentomaketherichunderstandthatitismoreblessedtogivethantoreceive;——

  possessingperfectlytheanecdotesofourvariousMansions,especiallyofourworn—outFurnitures;renderinghimself,byhismerits,necessarytothosewhoknowhim;and,withaverybadhead,havingaverygoodheart。

  \"OurangerthesaidBaronneverkindledbutonce,\"——inatrociouslyviolatingthegraveofanAncestress(orStepAncestress)ofours。

  [Step—AncestresswasDorothea,theGreatElector’ssecondWife;

  ofwhomPollnitz,inhisMemoirsandLetters,

  repeatstherumorthatonceshe,perhaps,triedtopoisonherStepsonFriedrich,FirstKing。(Seesupra,vol。v。p。47)。]\"Butastheloveliestcountrieshavetheirbarrenspots,thebeautifulestformstheirimperfections,picturesbythegreatestmasterstheirfaults,WearewillingtocoverwiththeveilofoblivionthoseofthesaidBaron;doherebygranthim,withregret,theCongeeherequires;——andabolishhisOfficealtogether,toblotitfrommen’smemory,notjudgingthatanybodyafterthesaidBaroncanbeworthytofillit。

  \"DoneatPotsdam,this1stofApril,1744。FREDERIC。\"

  [OEuvres,xv。193。]

  TheOfficeofGrandMasteroftheCeremonieswas,accordingly,abolishedaltogether。ButPollnitz,leftlooseinthismanner,didnotgallopdirect,orgoatall,intomonkhood,ashehadexpected;

  but,infact,bydegrees,crepthometoBerlinagain;tookthesubalternpostofChamberlain;andthere,intheoldfashion(straitenedinfinance,makingloans,retailinganecdotes,notwittybutthecauseofwit),woreoutlife’sgrayevening;

  till,aboutthirtyyearshence,hedied;\"diedashehadlived,swindlingtheverynightbeforehisdecease,\"writesFriedrich;

  [LettertoVoltaire,13thAugust,1775(OEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。344)。SeePreuss,v。241

  (URKUNDENBUCH),theLettersofFriedrichtoPollnitz。]whowasalwaysratherkindtothepoorolddog,thoughbanteringhimagooddeal。

  TWOCONQUESTSFORPRUSSIA,AGASEOUSANDASOLID:

  CONQUESTFIRST,BARBERINATHEDANCER。

  EarlyinMay,theBerlinpublicfirstsawitsBarberinadance,andwroteecstaticLatinEpigramsaboutthatmiracleofnatureandart;

  [Rodenbeck,pp。111,190。]——miracle,alas,notentirelyomissiblebyus。HereisherStory,astheBooksgiveit;slightlymythical,Ijudge,insomeofitsnon—essentialparts;butgoodenoughforthesubject:——

  BarberinatheDancerhadcostFriedrichsometrouble;thepainshetookwithherelegantpirouettingsandpoussettings,andtheheavysalaryhegaveher,areanunexpectediteminhishistory。

  HewishedtofavortheArts,yes;butdidhereckonOpera—dancingachiefoneamongthem?HehadindeedbuiltanOpera—House,andgavefreeadmissions,supportingthecosthimself;andamonghisothergovernings,governedthedancerandsingertroopsofthatestablishment。TooknolittletroubleabouthisOpera:——yetperhapsheprivatelyknewitsplace,afterall。\"WishedtoencouragestrangersofopulentconditiontovisithisCapital,\"saythecunningones。Itmaybeso;and,atanyrate,heprobablywishedtoacttheKinginsuchmatters,andnotgrudgealittlemoney。

  Hereallylovedmusic,evenoperamusic,andknewthathispeoplelovedit;totheroughnaturalman,allrhythm,evenofaBarberina’sfeet,maybedidactic,beneficial:donothiggle,letusdowhatistobedoneinaliberalstyle。HisagentatVenice——

  forhehasagentseverywhereontheoutlookforhim——reportsthathereisaFemaleDancerofthefirstquality,whohasshoneinLondon,ParisandtheCapitalCities,andmightanswerwell,butwhosetermswillprobablybedear。\"Engageher,\"answersFriedrich。

  Andsheisengagedonprettyterms;shewillbefreeinamonthortwo,andthenstart。[Zimmermann,FragmenteuberFriedrichdenGrossen(Leipzig,1790),i。88—92;Collini,ubiinfra;Denina;&c。:compareRodenbeck,p。191。]

  Well;——butBarberinahad,asisusual,subsidiarytradestoherdancing:inparticular,ayoungEnglishGentlemanhadfollowedherupanddown,saysZimmermann,andwasstillhereinVenicepassionatelyattachedtoher。Whichfact,especiallywhichyoungEnglishgentleman,shouldhavebeenextremelyindifferenttome,butforacircumstancesoontobementioned。TheyoungEnglishgentleman,clearagainstBarberina’sPrussianscheme,passionatelyopposesthesame,passionatelyrenewshisownoffers;——inducesBarberinatoinformthePrussianagentthatsherenouncesherengagementinthatquarter。Prussianagentanswersthatitisnotrenounceable;thathehaslegalwritingonit,andthatitmustbekept。Barberinarisesintocontumacy,willlaughatallwritingandcompulsion。PrussianagentappliestoDogeandSenateonthesubject,inhisKing’sname;whoanswerpolitely,butdonothing:

  \"HowhappytoobligesogreataKing;but——\"Andsoitlastsforcertainmonths;BarberinaandtheyoungEnglishgentlemancontumaciousinVenice,andDogeandSenatemerelywishingwemaygether。

  MeanwhileaVenetianAmbassadorhappenstobepassingthroughBerlin,inhiswaytoorfromsomeHyperboreanState;arrivesatsomehotel,inBerlin;——finds,onthemorrow,thathisluggageisarrestedbyRoyalOrder;thathe,oratleastIT,cannotgetfarther,neitheradvancenorreturn,tillBarberinadocome。

  \"Impossible,Signor:abargainisabargain;andStatesoughttohavelaw—courtsthatenforcecontractsenteredintointheirterritories。\"TheVenetianDogeandSenatedonowlayholdofBarberina;packherintopost—chaises,offtowardsBerlin,underthechargeofarmedmen,withthepropertransit—papers,——asitwereundertheaddress,\"ForhisMajestyofPrussia,thissideuppermost,\"——andthussheactuallyisconveyed,dateormonthuncertain,byInnspruckortheSplugen,Icannotsaywhich,overmountain,overvalley,fromcountrytocountry,andfromstagetostage,tillshearrivesatBerlin;Ambassadorwithbaggagehavingbeenletgo,sosoonastheaffairwasseentobesafe。

  AsfortheyoungEnglishgentlemanpassionatelyattached,hefollowed,itisunderstood;faithful,constantasshadowtothesun,alwaysastagebehind;arrivedinBerlintwohoursafterhisBarberina,stillpassionatelyattached;andnow,astherumorgoes,wasthreateningeventomarryher,andsosavethematter。

  Supremelyindifferenttomyreadersandme。Butherenowisthecircumstancethatmakesitmentionable。TheyoungEnglishisproperlyayoungScotchgentleman;JamesMackenziethenameofhim,——agrandsonofthecelebratedAdvocate,SirGeorgeMackenzie;

  andyoungerBrotherofapersonagewho,asEarlofBute,becameextremelyconspicuousinthisKingdominafteryears。Thatmakesitmentionable,——ifonlyintheshapeofMYTH。ForFriedrich,accordingtorumor,beingstillliketolosehisDancerinthatmanner,warnedtheyounggentleman’sfriends;andhadhimperemptorilysummonedhome,andthelightfantastictoeleftfreeinthatrespect。Whichproceduretheindignantyounggentleman(thinksmyAuthor)neverforgave;continuingahaterofFriedrichallhisdays;andinstillingthesamesentimentintotheEarlofButeataperiodwhichwasverycritical,asweshallsee。

  ThisismyAuthor’s,theoftenfallaciousthoughnotmendaciousDr。Zimmermann’s,ratherdeliberateaccount;amannotgiventomendacity,thoughfilledwithmuchvaguewind,whichrendershimfallaciousinhistoricalpoints。

  ReadersofWalpole’sGeorgetheThirdknowenoughofthisMackenzie,\"Earl’sBrother,MACKINSY,\"andthesorrowfuldifficultiesabouthisScotchlaw—officeorbenefice;

  inwhichmatter\"Mackinsy\"behavesalwaysinahighway,andonlytheMinisterialOutsandInnshigglepedler—like,vigilantoftheLibertiesofEngland,astheycallthem。Intheend,Mackinsykepthislaw—officeorgotitrestoredtohim;3,000poundsayearwithoutexcessofwork;amanmuchthegentleman,accordingtotherulethencurrent:incontemplativeraremoments,theman,lookingbackthroughthedimposternsofthemind,mightseeafaroffacertainpirouettingFigure,oncefarfromindifferent,andnotyetquitemeltedintocheerlessgraysmoke,assomuchoftherestis——

  toMr。Mackinsyandus。Ihavemade,intheScotchMackenziecircles,whatinquirywasdue;findnoevidence,butvariouslikelihoods,thatthisoftheBarberinaandhimisfact,andapieceofhisbiography。Astotheinferencededucedfromit,inregardtoFriedrichandtheEarlofBute,onacriticaloccasion,——

  thatrestsentirelywithZimmermann;andthecandidmindinclinestoadmitthat,probably,itisbutrumorandconjecture;

  street—duststickingtotheDoctor’sshoes,anddemandingmerelytobewellsweptoutagain。Heigho!——

  Barberina,thoughadancer,didnotwantformoreessentialgraces。

  Verysprightly,veryprettyandintelligent;notwithoutpiquancyandpungency:theKinghimselfhasbeenknowntotaketeawithherinmixedsociety,thoughnothingmore;andwithpassionateyounggentlemenshewasverysuccessful。NotlongafterhercomingtoBerlin,shemadeconquestofCocceji,thecelebratedChancellor’sSon;whofindingnootherresource,atlengthprivatelymarriedher。Voltaire’sCollini,whenhecametoBerlin,in1750,recommendedbyaSignoraSisteroftheBarberina’s,foundtheBarberinaandherMotherdiningdailywiththisCoccejiastheirguest:[Collini,MonSejouraupresdeVoltaire(aParis,1807),pp。13—19。]SignoraBarberinaprivatelyinformedCollinihowthematterwas;Signorinastilldancingallthesame,——thoughshehadmoneyintheEnglishfundswithal;

  andFriedrichhadbeensogenerousasgiveherthefixingofherownsalary,whenshecametohim,this—side—uppermost,inthewaywedescribed。Shehadfixed,toomodestlythinksCollini,on5,000

  thalers(about750pounds)ayear;havingheartandheadaswellasheels,poorlittlesoul。PerhapshernotablestfeatinHistory,afterall,washerleadingthisCollini,asshenowdid,intotheserviceofVoltaire,tobeVoltaire’sSecretary。Aswillbeseen。

  WherebywehaveobtainedaloyallittleBook,morecrediblethanmostothers,aboutthatnotableman。

  Atasubsequentperiod,BarberinadecidedondeclaringhermarriagewithCocceji;shedrewhermoneyfromtheEnglishfunds,purchasedafinemansion,andwenttolivewiththesaidCoccejithere,givinguptheOperaandpublicpirouettes。Butthisdidnotanswereither。Cocceji’sMotherscornedirreconcilablytheOperaalliance;

  Friedrich,whodidnothimselflikeitinhisChancellor’sSon,promotedtheyoungmantosomehigherpostinthedistantSilesianregion。Butthere,alas,theythemselvesquarrelled;divorcedoneanother;andrumoragainwasbusy。\"You,Coccejiyourself,arebutaschoolmaster’sgrandson[Barberina,oneeasilysupposes,mighthaveatemperwithal];anditisI,ifyouwillrecollect,thatdrewmoneyfromtheEnglishfunds!\"Barberinamarriedagain;andtoanoblemanofsixteenquartersthistime,andwithwhomatleasttherewasnodivorce。Successfulwithpassionategentlemen;havingmoneyfromtheEnglishfunds。HerlastnamewasGrafinn——Ireallyknownotwhat。Herdescendantsprobablystilllive,withsixteenquarters,inthoseparts。Itwasthusshedidherlife—journey,waltzingandwalking;successfullyholdingherownagainsttheworld。Historydeclaresitselfashamedofspendingsomanywordsonsuchasubject。ButtheDancerofFriedrich,andtheauthoress,primeorproximate,ofCollini’sVoltaire,

  claimsapassingremembrance。Letus,ifwecaneasilyhelpit,neverspeakofhermore。

  CONQUESTSECONDISOST—FRIESLAND,OFASOLIDNATURE。

  May25th,1744,justwhileBarberinabeganherpirouettingsatBerlin,poorKarlEdzard,PrinceofEastFriesland,longaweakmalingeringcreature,died,rathersuddenly;childless,andthelastofhisHouse,whichhadenduredthereabout300years。

  OurcleverWilhelminaatBaireuth,thoughreadershaveforgottenthesmallcircumstance,hadmarriedasuperfluousSister—in—lawofherstothisKarlEdward;and,theysay,itwassomefondhopeofprogeny,suddenlydashedintonothingness,thatfinishedthepoorman,thatnightofMay25th。Inanycase,hisTerritoryfallstoPrussia,byReich’sSettlementoflongstanding(1683—1694);

  whichhadbeenconfirmedanewtothelateKing,FriedrichWilhelm:

  ——werememberhowhereturnedwithit,honestman,fromthatKLADRUPJOURNEYin1732,andwassniffedatforbringingnothingbetter。Andintheinterim,hisroyalHanoverCousins,covetingEastFriesland,hadclaptupanERBVERBRUDERUNGwiththepoorPrincethere(Father,Ithink,oftheonejustdead):\"AthingULTRAVIRES,\"arguedLawyers;\"private,quasi—clandestine;

  andposterior(inasense)toReich’sCONCLUSUM,1694。\"

  Onwhichground,however,GeorgeII。nowsuedFricdrichatReich’sLaw,——Friedrich,weneednotsay,havinginstantlytakenpossessionofOst—Friesland。Andthereensuedarguingenoughbetweenthem,foryearscoming;verygreatexpenditureofparchment,andofmutualbarkingatthemoon(donealwaysbyproxy,andeasytodo);

  whichdoubtlessincreasedthemutualill—feeling,buthadnoothereffect。Friedrich,whohadbeenwellawaketoOst—Frieslandforsometimeback,andhadgivenhisOfficialpeople(CoccejihisMinisterofJustice,Chancellorbyandby,andoneortwosubordinates)theirpreciseInstructions,laidholdofit,withamaximumofpromptitude;therebyquashingagreatdealofmuchmoredangerouslitigationthanUncleGeorge’s。

  \"InallGermany,notexceptingevenMecklenburg,therehadbeennomoreanarchicspotthanOst—Frieslandforthelastsixtyorseventyyears。ACountrywithparliamentary—lifeinextraordinaryvivacity(risingindeedtothesuicidalorinternecinepitch,intwoorthreedirections),andnexttonoregent—lifeatall。ACountrythathadlovedFreedom,notwiselybuttoowell!RitterParty,Prince’sParty,Towns’Party;——alwaystwoormoreinternecineParties:’FalseParliamentyou:traitors!’’We?FalseYOU,traitors!’——TheParishConstable,bygeneralconsent,keptwalking;

  butforGovernmenttherewasthisoftheParliamentaryEloquences(threeatonce),andFreedom’sbattle,fancyit,bequeathedfromsiretoson!’ThelateKarlEdzardneveroncewasinEmbden,hischiefTown,thoughhelivedwithinadozenmilesofit。’——Andthen,stillmorequestionable,alltheseenergeticlittlePartieshadappliedtotheNeighboringGovernments,andhadeachitssmallForeignBattalion,’ToprotectUSandourjustfranchises!’

  ImperialReich’s—SafeguardBattalion,DutchBattalion,DanishBattalion,——Prussian,itfirstofallwas(year1683,TownofEmbdeninvitingtheGreatElector),butitisnotsonow。

  ThePrussianshadneededtobequietlyswift,onthat25thdayofMay,1744。

  \"Andtrulytheywereso;Coccejihavingallthingsready;

  leadingparty—menalreadysecuredtohim,troopswithincall,andthelike。ThePrussians——EmbdenTown—CouncilsinvitingtheirastonishedDutchBattalionnottobeathome——marchedquietlyintoEmbden’nextday,’andtookpossessionoftheguns。MarchedtoAurich(officialmetropolis),DanesandImperialSafeguardsayingnothing;and,inshort,withinaweekhad,intheirusualexactfashion,gotfirmholdofchaoticOst—Friesland。Andproceededtomanageit,inlikesort,——witheffectssoonsensible,andsteadilycontinuing。TheirParliamentary—lifeFriedrichleftinitsfullvigor:’Taxyourselves;whatrevenueyoulike;andseetotheoutlayofityourselves。Allowme,asLANDES—HERR,sometrifleofoverplus:howmuch,then?Furthermoreafewrecruits,——orrecruit—

  moneyinlieu,ifyoulikebetter!’AnditwasastonishinghowtheParliamentaryvitality,notshortenedofitsleastfranchise,orcoercedinanyparticular,butmerelystrokedtherightwayofthehair,byagentlyformidablehand,withgoodheadguiding,sankalmoststraightwayintodove—life,andnevergaveFriedrichanytrouble,whateverelseitmightdo。Themanagementwasgood;

  theopportunityalsowasgood。’Inonesitting,thePrussianAgent,arbitratingbetweenEmbdenandtheRitters,settledtheircontroversy,whichhadlastedfiftyyears。’ThepoorCountryfeltgrateful,whichitmightwelldo;asifforthelayingofgoblins,fortheendingoflong—continuedlocaltyphoon!Friedrich’sfirstVisit,in1751,waswelcomedwithuniversaljubilation;andpoorOst—Frieslandthankedhiminstillmoresolidways,whenoccasionrose。[Ranke,iii。370—382。]

  \"ItisnotanimportantCountry:——onlyaboutthesizeofCheshire;

  wetlikeit,andmuchinferiortoitincheese,inresourcesforleatherandlive—stock,thoughitperhapsexcels,again,inclover—

  seeds,rape—seeds,Flandershorses,andtheflaxproducts。

  The’clearoverplus’ityieldedtoFriedrich,asSovereignAdministratorandDefender,wasonly3,200pounds;forrecruit—

  MONEY,6,000pounds(norecruitsinCORPORE);inall,littlemorethan9,000poundsayear。Butithaditsusestoo。Embden,biggerthanChester,andwithabetterharbor,wasaplaceofgoodtrade;

  andbroughtFriedrichintocontactwithsea—matters;inwhich,asweshallfind,hedidmakesomecreditableincipiencies,raisingexpectationsintheworld;andmighthavecarrieditfarther,hadnotnewWars,farworsethanthisnowathand,interruptedhim。\"

  FriedrichwasatPyrmont,takingthewaters,whilethisofFrieslandfellout;hehadgonethitherMay20th;wasjustarrivedthere,fourdaysbeforethedeathofKarlEdzard。[Rodenbeck,p。102。]HisOfficials,wellpre—instructed,managedtheOst—

  FrieslandQuestionmainlythemselves。Friedrichwastakingthewaters;ostensiblynothingmore。Buthewaswithal,andstillmoreearnestly,consultingwithaFrenchExcellency(whoalsohadfeltaneedofthewaters),abouttheFrenchCampaignforthisSeason:

  WhetherCoignywasstrongenoughintheMiddle—RhineCountries;

  howtheirGrandArmyoftheNetherlandsshapedtoprosper;

  andotherthelikeinterestingpoints。[Ranke,iii。165,166。]

  FrankfurtUnionisjustsigned(May22d)。MostChristianMajestyishimselfunderwaytotheNetherlands,himselfgoingtocommandthere,asweshallsee。\"Good!\"answersFriedrich:\"Butdon’tweakenCoigny,thinkofPrinceKarlonthatside;don’tdetachfromCoigny,andreducehis60,000to40,000!\"

  Plentyofmutualconsulting,astheywalkinthewoodsthere。

  Andhowprofoundlyobscure,tocertainOfficialpartiesmuchconcerned,judgefromthefollowingsmallDocument,preservedbyaccident:——

  LYTTELTON(ouroldSoissonsFriend,nowanOfficialinPrinceFred’sHousehold,friendofPitt,andmuchelse)TOHISFATHERATHAGLEY。

  ARGYLESTREET,LONDON,\"May5th[16th],1744。

  \"DEARSIR,——Mr。West[GilbertWest,ofwhomthereisstillsomememory]comeswithustoHagley;and,ifyougivemeleave,IwillbringourfriendThomsontoo\"——ohJamieThamson,JamieThamson,oh!

  \"HisSEASONSwillbepublishedinaboutaweek’stime,andamostnobleworktheywillbe。

  \"Ihavenopublicnewstotellyou,whichyouhavenothadintheGazettes,exceptwhatissaidinPrivateLettersfromGermany,oftheKingofPrussia’shavingdrunkhimselfintodirectmadness,andbeingconfinedonthataccount;which,iftrue,mayhaveagreateffectuponthefateofEuropeatthiscriticaltime。\"Yesindeed,iftrue。\"ThoseLetterssay,that,atareview,hecausedtwomentobetakenoutoftheline,andshot,withoutanycauseassignedforit,andorderedathirdtobemurderedinthesamemanner;

  buttheMajoroftheregimentventuringtointercedeforhim,hisMajestydrewhissword,andwouldhavekilledtheOfficertoo,ifhe,perceivinghismadness,hadnottakenthelibertytosavehimself,bydisarmingtheKing;whowasimmediatelyshutup;

  andtheQueen,hisMother,hastakentheRegencyuponherselftillhisrecovery。\"PAPAE!\"Idonotgiveyouthisnewsforcertain;butitisgenerallybelievedintown。LordChesterfieldsays,’HeisonlythoughttobeMADinGermany,becausehehasMOREWITthanotherGermans。’

  \"TheKingofSardinia’sRetreatfromhislinesatVillaFranca,andthelossofthatTown[20thApril,oneofthosefurioustussles,FrenchandSpaniardVERSUSSardinianMajesty,intheCOULISSESorside—scenesoftheItalianWar—Theatre,neitherstagenorside—

  scenesofwhichshallconcernusinthisplace],certainlybearaveryillaspect;butitisnotconsideredas\"——anythingtospeakof;norwasit。\"WeexpectwithimpatiencetoknowwhatwillbetheeffectoftheDutchAmbassadortoParis,——[toValenciennes,asitturnsout,KingLouis,onhishigherrandtotheNetherlands,beinggotsofar;andthe\"effect\"wasnoeffectatall,exceptgoodwordsonhispart,andpersistenceinthebatteringdownofMeninandtheDutchBarrier,ofwhichweshallhearerelong]。

  \"IprayGodtheSummermaybehappytous,bybeingmoreeasythanusualtoyou,\"——dearFather,muchsufferingbyincurableailments。

  \"ItistheonlythingwantingtomakeHagleyParkaParadise。

  \"PoorPopeis,Iamafraid,goingtoresignallthatcandieofhimtodeath;\"——didactuallydie,30thMay(10thJune):aworld—tragedythattoo,thoughinsmallcompass,andactingitselfnextdoor,atTwickenham,withoutnoise;astarofthefirmamentgoingout;——

  twin—star,Swift(Carteret’soldfriend),likewisegoingout,sunkinthesocket,\"adrivellerandashow。\"……\"Iam,withthetruestrespectandaffection,dearSir,yourmostdutifulSon,——

  \"GEORGELYTTELTON。\"

  [Ayscough,LordLyttelton’sMiscellaneousWorks,(Lond。,1776),iii。318。]

  FriedrichreturnedfromPyrmont,11thJune;saw,withagriefofhisown,withmanythoughtswellhidden,hisSisterUlriquewhirledawayfromhim,26thJuly,inthegrayofthesummerdawn。

  InBerlin,inPrussia,nobodybutoneisawareofworsejustcoming。AndnowtheWar—drumssuddenlyawakenagain;andpoorreaders——nottospeakofpoorPrussiaanditsKing!——mustreturntothatuncomfortablesphere,tillthingsmend。

  EndofV14

  HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV15

  Volume15

  ByThomasCarlyleBOOKXV。

  SECONDSILESIANWAR,IMPORTANTEPISODE

  INTHEGENERALEUROPEANONE。

  15thAug。1744—25thDec。1745。

  ChapterI。

  PRELIMINARY:HOWTHEMOMENTARRIVED。

  Battlebeingonceseentobeinevitable,itwasFriedrich’splannottowaitforit,buttogiveit。ThankstoFriedrichWilhelmandhimself,thereisnoArmy,noreverwasany,insuchcontinualpreparation。Militarypeoplesay,\"SomeCountriestakesixmonths,sometwelve,togetinmotionforwar:butinthreeweeksPrussiacanbeacrossthemarches,anduponthethroatofitsenemy。\"

  WhichisanimmenseadvantagetolittlePrussiaamongitsbigneighbors。\"SomeCountrieshavealongerswordthanPrussia;

  butnonecanunsheatheitsosoon:\"——wehope,too,itismoderatelysharp,whenwieldedbyadefthand。

  TheFrench,aswasintimated,areingreatvigor,thisYear;

  thoroughlyprovoked;andespeciallysinceFriedrichsenthisRothenburgamongthem,havebeendoingtheirveryutmost。

  TheirmaineffortisintheNetherlands,atpresent;——andindeed,ashappened,continuesallthroughthisWartobe。Theybynomeansintend,oreverdid,toneglectTeutschland;yetitturnsout,theyhaveprettymuchdonewiththeirfightingthere。AndnextYear,drivenorledbyaccidentsofvariouskinds,theyquititaltogether;andturningtheirwholestrengthupontheNetherlandsandItaly,chieflyontheNetherlands,leaveFriedrich,muchtohisastonishment,withtheGermanWarhangingwhollyroundHISneck,andtakenochargeofitfarther!Inwhich,toFriedrich’sBiographers,thereisthisinestimablebenefit,iffarthereversetoFriedrich’sself:ThatweshallsoonhavedonewiththeFrench,then;withthemandwithsomuchelse;andmay,intimecoming,formostpart,leavetheirhugeSorcerer’sSabbathofaEuropeanWartodanceitselfout,wellinthedistance,notencumberingusfarther,likeacircumambientBedlam,asithashithertodone。

  Courage,reader!Letusgive,inaglanceortwo,somenotionofthecoursethingstook,andwhatmomentitwaswhenFriedrichstruckin;——whomalone,oralmostalone,wehopetofollowthenceforth;\"DismalSwamp\"(sograciouswasHeaventous)lyingnowmostlytorearward,littleaswehopedit!

  Itwasmereaccident,aseriesofbadaccidents,thatledKingLouisandhisMinistersintograduallyforsakingFriedrich。

  Theywerethefarthestintheworldfromintendingsuchathing。

  Contrariwise,whatbrain—beating,diplomaticspider—weaving,practicalcontriving,nowandafterwards,forthatobject;

  especiallynow!Rothenburg,Noailles,Belleisle,CardinalTencin,havebeenbusy;notlessthemistressChateauroux,whoadmiresFriedrich,beingindeedahigh—mindedunfortunatefemale,astheysay;andhasthrownoutAmelot,notforstammeringalone。Theyareable,almosthighpeople,thisnewChateaurouxMinistry,comparedwithsome;andalreadyshowresults。

  Nay,whatismostimportantofall,Francehas(unconsciously,orbymerehelpofNoaillesandluck)gotarealGeneraltoherArmies:ComtedeSaxe,nowMarechaldeSaxe;whowillshineverysplendentintheseNetherlandoperations,——counter—shonebymereWades,D’Ahrembergs,Cumberlands,——inthisandtheFourfollowingYears。NoailleshadalwaysrecognizedComtedeSaxe;hadlongstrivenforhim,inOfficialquarters;andheregetsthelightofhimunveiledatlast,andsetonahighplace:loyalNoailles。

  ThiswastheYear,this1744,whenLouisXV。,urgedbyhisChateauroux,thehigh—souledunfortunatefemale,appearedinpersonattheheadofhistroops:\"Go,Sire,go,MONCHOU(andIwillaccompany);showyourselfwhereaKingshouldbe,attheheadofyourtroops;beasecondLouis—le—Grand!\"Whichhedid,hisChateaurouxandhe;actuallywenttotheNetherlands,withbaggage—

  trainimmeasurable,includingnotcooksonly,butplay—actorswiththeirthunder—barrels(offfromParis,May3d),totheadmirationoftheUniverse。[Adelung,iv。113;Barbier,ii。391,394;Dulaure,Hist。deParis;&c。]Tookthecommand,nominal—command,firstdaysofJune;andcapturedinno—timeMenin,Ipres,Furnes,andtheFortofKnock,andasmuchoftheAustrianNetherlandsasheliked,——thatistosay,sawNoaillesandSaxedoit;——walkingrapidlyforwardfromSiegetoSiege,withamostthunderingartillery;oldMarshalWadeandconsortsdismallyeatingtheirvictuals,andlookingonfromthedistance,unabletoattempttheleaststrokeinopposition。SothattheDutchBarrier,ifanybodynowcaredforit,didgoallflat;andtheBalanceofPowergetskickedoutofitssacredpivot:tosuchpurposehavetheDutchbeenhoisted!Terribletothinkof;——hadnotthere,fromtheoppositequarter,risenasurprisingcounterpoise;hadnottherebeenaPrinceKarl,withhis70,000,pressingvictoriouslyovertheRhine;whichstayedtheFrenchinthesesacrilegiousprocedures。

  PRINCEKARLGETSACROSSTHERHINE(20JUNE—2JULY,1744)。

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