第91章
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  In\"James,\"thejunior,butmuchthestrongerandmoresolid,hehaslost,asitwere,aFATHERandyoungerbrotheratonce;

  father,uuderbeautifulconditions;andthetearsoftheoldmanarenaturalandaffecting。TenyearsolderthanhisBrother;

  andsurvivedhimstilltwentyyears。Anexcellentcheeryoldsoul,hetoo;honestasthesunlight,withafinesmallveinofgayety,and\"pleasantwit,\"inhim:whatatreasuretoFriedrichatPotsdam,inthecomingyears;andhowmuchlovedbyhim(almostasoneBOYlovesanother),allreaderswouldbesurprisedtodiscover。

  Somehintsofhimwillperhapsbeallowedusfartheron。

  SEQUELOFHOCHKIRCH;THECAMPAIGNENDSINAWAY

  SURPRISINGTOANATTENTIVEPUBLIC

  (22dOctober—20thNovember,1758)。

  TherefolloweduponHochkirchfiveweeksofrapidevents;suchasnobodyhadbeencalculatingon。Tothereader,sowearyofmarchings,manoeuvrings,surprisals,campingsanddetailsofwar,notmanywords,wehope,mayrendertheseresultsconceivable。

  Friedrichstayedtendays,refittinghimself,inthatCampofKlein—Bautzen,ononeofthebranchesoftheSpree。Daun,whohadretiredtohisoldstrongplace,onthe14th,scarcelyoccupyingHochkirchFieldatall,cameoutinaboutaweek;andtookastrongpostnearFriedrich;notattemptinganythinguponhim,butwatchinghim,nowbetterwithinsight。Friedrich’sfixedintentionis,tomarchtoNeisseallthesame;whatprobablyDaun,undertheshadowofhislaurelsandhisnewPapalHat,maynothaveconsideredpossible,withtheroadtoNeisseblockedby80,000men。

  Friedrichhasrefittedhimselfwiththerequisitenewcannonandfurnitures,fromDresden;especiallywithPrinceHenriand6,000

  footandhorse,——ledbyPrinceHenriinperson;soPrinceHenriwouldhaveit,thecapriciouslittleman;andthatFinckshouldbeleftinSaxonyinsteadofhim。AllwhichweakensSaxonynotalittle。ButFriedrichhopestheReichsArmyisafeeblearticle;

  illoffforprovisioninthoseparts,andnotlikelytoattemptverymuchonthesudden。Accordingly:——

  FRIEDRICHMARCHES,ENIGMATICALLY,NOTONGLOGAU,BUTON

  REICHENBACHANDGORLITZ;TODAUN’SASTONISHMENT。

  SUNDAYEVENING,OCTOBER22d,ConvoyofmanywagonsquitBautzen(BautzenProper,nottheVillage,buttheTown),ladenwithallthewoundedofHochkirch;above3,000bycount,tocarrythemtoDresdenfordeliberatesurgery。Keith’sTebay,Iperceive,isinthisConvoy;notillhurt,butwillingtolieinHospitalalittle,andconsider。ThesepoorfellowscannotgettoDresden:onthesecondday,aDaunDetachment,hussaringaboutinthoseparts,isannouncedahead;and(byneworderfromhead—quarters)theConvoyturnsnorthwardsforHoyerswerda,——(toTebay’sdisgustwiththeCommandant;\"shiedoff,\"saysTebay,\"fortwelvehussars!\"[SecondLETTERfromTebay,inMitchell,ubisupra。])——and,Ithink,intheend,wentontoGlogauinsteadofDresden。WhichwasveryfortunateforTebayandtheothers。Thepoorwoundedbeingthusdisposedof,Friedrichnextnight,at10o’clock,Monday,23d,inthesoftestmanner,pushesoffhisBakeryandArmyStoresalittleway,northwarddowntheSpreeValley,onthewesternforkoftheSpree(forkfarthestfromDaun);follows,himself,withtherestoftheArmy,nextevening,downtheeasternfork,alsonorthward。

  \"GoingforGlogau,\"thinksDaun,whenthehussarsreportaboutit(lateonTuesdaynight):\"Lethimgo,ifhefancythataroadTO

  Neisse!But,indeed,whatothershifthashe,\"considersDaun,\"buttotryrallyingatGlogauyonder,safeundertheguns?\"——andisnotintheslightesthasteaboutthisnewmatter。[Tempelhof,ii。

  341—347。]

  Unitedwithhisbaggage—column,Friedrichproceedsnortheastward;

  crossesSpreestillnorthwardornortheastward;encampsthere,inthedarkhoursofTuesday;noDaunheedinghim。Beforedaylight,however,Friedrichisagainonfoot;inseveralcolumnsnow,forthebadcountry—roadsahead;——andhasstruckstraightSOUTHeastward,ifDaunwerenotinghim。And,intheafternoonofWednesday,DaunisastonishedtolearnthatthiswilyEnemyisarrivedinReichenbachvicinity;sweepinginourpoorpoststhereabouts;immovablyastrideoftheSilesianHighway,afterall!

  AnastonishedDaunhastensout,whathecan,totakesurveyofthesuddenPhenomenon。Triesit,nextdayandnext,withhisbestLoudonsandappliances;findsthatthisPhenomenoncanactuallymarchtoNeisseaheadofhim,indifferenttoPandours,orgivingthemasgoodastheybring;——andthatnothingbutabattleandbeating(couldwerashlydreamofsuchathing,whichwecannot)

  willpreventit。\"Verywell,then!\"Daunstrivestosay。AndletsthePhenomenonmarch(FROMGorlitz,OCTOBER30th);Loudonharassingtherearofit,forsomedays;notwithoutcounterharassment,muchwasteofcannonading,andruintoseveralpoorLausitzVillagesbyfire,——\"Prussiansscandalouslyburnthem,whenweattack!\"saysLoudon。Till,atlast,findingthismarchimpregnablyarranged,\"splitintotworoutes,\"andreadyforallchances,Loudonalsowithdrawstomorepromisingbusiness。PoorGeneralRetzowSeniorwasofthismarch;absolutelycouldnotbeexcused,thoughfallenillofdysentery,liketodie;——anddiddie,thedayafterhegottoSchweidnitz,whenthedifficultiesandexcitementwereover。

  [Retzow,i。372。]

  OfFriedrich’smarch,onwardfromGorlitz,weshallsaynothingfarther,exceptthattheverywindofitwassalvatorytohisSilesianFortressesandinterests。ThatatNeisse,onandafterNovember1st,——whichisthethirdorseconddayofFriedrich’smarch,——GeneralTreskow,CommandantofNeisse,foundthebombardmentslackenmoreandmore(\"KingofPrussiacoming,\"saidtheAustriandeserterstous);andthat,onNovember6th,Treskow,lookingoutfromNeisse,foundtheAustriantrenchesempty,GeneralsHarschandDevillehurryingovertheHillshomewards,——

  pickingstobehadofthembyTreskow,——andNeisseSiegeathingfinished。[TAGEBUCH,&c。(\"DiaryoftheSiegeofNeisse,\"4thAugust,26thOctober,6thNovember,1758,\"1A。M。suddenly\"),inSeyfarth,Beylagen,ii。468—472:ofTreskow’sownwriting;briefandclear。Helden—Geschichte,v。268—270。]Ithadlasted,inthewayofblockadeandhalf—blockade,foraboutthreemonths;Deville,fornearonemonth,half—blockading,thenHarsch(sinceSeptember30th)whollyblockading,withDevilleunderhim,andanarmyof20,000;

  thoughtheactualcannonade,veryfierce,butofnoeffect,couldnotbegintilllittlemorethanaweekago,——sodifficultthegettingupofsiege—materialinthoseparts。Kosel,underCommandantLattorf,whosepraises,likeTreskow’s,weregreat,——hadstoodfourmonthsofPandourblockadingandassaulting,whichalsohadtotakeitselfawayonadventofFriedrich。OfFriedrich,onhisreturn—journey,weshallhearagainbeforelong;butinthemeanwhilemustindustriouslyfollowDaun。

  FELDMARSCHALLDAUNANDTHEREICHSARMYTRYSOMESIEGEOFDRESDEN

  (9th—16thNovember)。

  OCTOBER30th,Daun,seeingNeisseSiegeasgoodasgonetowater,decidedwithhimselfthathecouldstilldoafarmoreimportantstroke:captureDresden,getholdofSaxonyinFriedrich’sabsence。

  DaunturnedroundfromReichenbach,accordingly;and,athisslow—

  footedpace,addressedhimselftothatnewerrand。Hadhemadebetterdespatch,orevenbeeninbetterluck,itisverypossiblehemighthavedonesomethingthere。InDresden,andinGovernorSchmettauwithhissmallgarrison,thereisnostrengthforasiege;inSaxonyisnothingbutsomepoorremnantunderFinck,muchofitFree—corpsandlightpeople:capableofbeingswallowedbytheReichsArmyitself,——weretheReichsArmyenterprising,oringoodcircumstancesotherwise。ItistruetheRussianshavequittedColbergasimpossible;andareflowinghomewardsdraggedbyhunger:

  thelittleDohnaArmywill,therefore,marchforSaxony;thelittleAnti—SwedishArmy,underWedell,haslikewisebeenmostlyorderedthither;bothattheirquickest。ForDaun,allturnsondespatch;

  loiteralittle,andFriedrichhimselfwillbehereagain!

  Daun,Ihavenodoubt,stirredhisslowfeetthefastesthecould。

  NOVEMBER7th,DaunwasintheneighborhoodofPirnaCountryagain,hadhisBridgeatPirna,forcommunication;urgedtheReichsArmytobestiritself,Nowornever。ReichsArmydidpushoutalittleagainstFinck;madehimleavethatperpetualCampofGahmig,takenewcamps,Kesselsdorfandelsewhere;andatlengthmadehimshootacrossElbe,tothenorthwest,onapontoonbridgebelowDresden,withretreatingroomtonorthward,andshelterunderthegunsofthatCity。ReichsArmyhaslikewisemadepowerfuldetachmentsforcaptureofLeipzigandthenorthwesterntowns;captureofTorgau,theMagazinetown,firstofall:summonthem,withforceevidentlyoverpowering,\"Freewithdrawal,ifyoudon’tresist;andifyoudo——!\"AtTorgautherewasactualattemptmade(November12th),ratherelaborateanddangerouslooking;underHaddick,withnear10,000ofthe\"Austrian—auxiliary\"sort:towhomtheoldCommandant——judgingWedell,thelateAnti—SwedishWedell,tobenownear——

  rushedoutwith\"300menandonebiggun;\"andmadesuchafiringandgesticulationaswasquiteextraordinary,asifWedellwereherealready:tillWedell’sselfdidcomeinsight;andtheoverpoweringReichsDetachmentmadeitsbestspeedelse—whither。

  [Tempelhof,&c。;\"LetterfromaPrussianOfficer,\"in

  Helden—Geschichte,v。286。]TheotherSiegesremainedthingsoftheory;theotherReichsDetachmentshurriedhome,Ithink,withoutsummoninganybody。

  Meanwhile,Daun,withtheproperArtilleriesatlastready,comesflowingforward(NOVEMBER8th—9th);andtakespostintheGreatGarden,orsouthsideofDresden;minatorytoSchmettauandthatCity。Thewalls,orworks,areweak;outsidethereisnothingbutMayerandtheFreeCorpstoresist,whoindeedhassurpassedhimselfthisseason,andbeenextraordinarilydiligentuponthatlazyReichsArmy。CommandantSchmettausignifiestoDaun,thedayDauncameinsight,\"IfyourExcellenzadvancefartheronme,thegrimRulesofWarinbesiegedplaceswillorderThatIburntheSuburbs,whichareyourdefencesinattackingme,\"——andactuallyfillsthefinehousesontheSouthernSuburbwithcombustiblematter,makingdueannouncements,toCourtandpopulation,aswellastoDann。\"BurntheSuburbs?\"answersDaun:\"Inthenameofcivilizedhumanity,youwillneverthinkofsuchthing!\"\"ThatwillI,yourExcellenz,ofasurety,anddoit!\"answersSchmettau。

  SothatDresdenisfullofpity,terrorandspeculation。Thecommonrumoris,saysExcellencyMitchell,whoissojourningthereforthepresent,\"ThatBruhl[nefariousBruhl,borntobethedeathofus!]

  haspersuadedPolishMajestytosanctionthisenterpriseofDaun’s,\"——verycareless,Bruhl,whatbecomeofDresdenorus,sotheKingofPrussiabewellhurtorspited!

  Certainenough,NOVEMBER9th,Daundoescomeon,regardlessofSchmettau’sassurances;sothat,\"aboutmidnight:\"Mayer,who\"canheartheenemybusilybuildingfourbigbatteries\"withal,hastoreporthimselfdriventotheedgeofthosehighHouses(whicharefilledwithcombustibles),andthatsomeCroatsaregotintotheupperwindows。\"Burnthem,then!\"answersSchmettasu(suchthedirenecessityofsiegedplaces):and,\"at3A。M。\"(threehours’noticetothepoorinmates),Mayerdoesso;hideousflamesburstingout,punctuallyatthestrokeof3:\"wholeSuburbseemedonblaze[aboutasixthpartofitactuallyso],nayyouwouldhavesaidthewholeTownwasenvironedinflames。\"ExcellencyMitchellclimbedasteeple:\"willnotdescribetoyourLordshipthehorror,theterrorandconfusionofthisnight;wretchedinhabitantsrunningwiththeirfurniture[whatofittheyhadgotflungout,between12

  o’clockand3]towardstheGreatGarden;allDresden,toappearance,girtinflames,ruinsandsmoke。\"SuchanightinDresden,especiallyinthePirnaSuburb,aswasneverseenbefore。

  [Mitchell,MemoirsandPapers,i。459。

  InHelden—Geschichte,v。295—302,minuteaccount(correspondingwellwithMitchell’s);ib。303—333,thecertifieddetailsofthedamagedone:\"280houseslost;\"\"4humanlives。\"]Thiswasthesadbeginning,orattemptatbeginning,ofDresdenSiege;andthisalsowastheendofit,onDaun’spartatpresent。Forfourdaysmore,hehungabouttheplace,minatory,hesitative;butattemptednothingfeasible;andonthefifthday,——

  \"foracertainweightyreason,\"astheAustrianGazettesexpressit,——hesawgoodtovanishintothePirnaRock—Country,andbeoutofharm’swayinthemeanwhile!

  TheTruthis,Daun’swasanintricatecasejustnow;needing,aboveallthings,swiftnessoftreatment;what,ofallthings,itcouldnotgetfromDaun。HisdenunciationsonthatburntSuburbwereagainloud;butSchmettaucontinuesdeaftoallthat,——means\"todefendhimselfbytheknownrulesofwarandofhonor;\"declares,he\"willdisputefromstreettostreet,andonlyfinishinthemiddleofPolishMajesty’sRoyalPalace。\"Denunciationwilldonothing!Daunhadabove100,000meninthoseparts。Rushingforwardwithsharpshotandbayonetstorm,insteadoflogicaldenunciation,itisprobableDaunmighthavesettledhisSchmettau。Butthehouroftidewasrigorous,withal;——andsuchanebb,ifyoumisseditinhesitating!NOVEMBER15th,Daunwithdrew;theebbingcome。

  Thatsameday,FriedrichwasatLaubanintheLausitz,withinahundredmilesagain;speedinghitherward;behindhimaSilesiabrushedclear,beforehimaSaxonytobebrushed。\"Reasonweighty\"

  enough,thinkDaunandtheAustrianGazettes!Butsuch,sinceyouhavemissedthetide—hour,istheinexorablefactofebb,——goingatthatfrightfulrate。Daunneverwasthemantodisputefacts。

  November20th,FriedricharrivedinDresden;heard,nextday,thatDaunhadwheeleddecisivelyhomewardfromPirnaCountry;thattheReichsArmyandhearediligentlyclimbingtheMetalMountains;

  andthatthereisnotinSaxony,morethaninSilesia,anenemyleft。WhataSequeltoHochkirch!\"NeisseandDresdenboth!\"wehadhopedassequel,iflucky:\"NeisseORDresden\"seemedinfallible。

  AndweareclimbingtheMetalMountains,underfactssuperiortous。

  AndCampaignThirdhasclosedinthismanner;——leavingthingsmuchasitfoundthem。Essentiallyadrawnmatch;ContendingPartieslittlealteredinrelativestrength;——bothofthem,itmaybepresumed,considerablyweaker。Friedrichisnottriumphant,orshininginthelightofbonfires,aslastYear;but,inthemindofjudges,standshigherthanever(ifthatcouldhelphimmuch);

  ——andisnot\"annihilated\"intheleast,whichisthesurprisingcircumstance。

  Friedrich’smarches,especially,havebeenwonderful,thisYear。

  Inthespring—time,oldMarechaldeBelleisle,FrenchMinisterofWar,consultingofficiallyaboutfutureoperations,hearditobjectedonce:\"ButiftheKingofPrussiaweretoburstinuponusthere?\"\"TheKingofPrussiaisagreatsoldier,\"answeredM。deBelleisle;\"buthisArmyisnotashuttle(NAVETTE),\"——tobeshotabout,inthatway,fromsidetosideoftheworld!Nosurely;

  notaltogether。ButtheKingofPrussiahas,amongotherarts,anartofmarchingArmies,whichbydegreesastonishestheoldMarechal。To\"comeuponusENNAVETTE,\"suddenly\"likeashuttle\"

  fromtheothersideoftheweb,becameanestablishedphraseamongtheFrenchconcernedintheseunfortunatematters。[Archenholtz,i。

  316;Montalembert,SAEPIUS,forthephrase\"ENNAVETTE。\"]

  \"ThePitt—and—FerdinandCampaignof1758,\"saysaNote,whichI

  wouldfainabridge,\"ismorepalpablyvictoriousthanFriedrich’s,muchmoreanaffairofbonfiresthanhis;thoughittoohashaditsrubs。LossofhonoratCrefeld;lossofLouisburgandCodfishery:

  theseareseriousblowsourenemyhashad。Butthen,totemperthejoyoverLouisburg,therewas,atTiconderoga,byAbercrombie,onthesmallscale(alltheextentofscalehehad),amelancholyPlatitudecommitted:thatofwalkingintoanenemywithouttheleastreconnoitringofhim,whoprovestobechin—deepinabatisandfield—works;andkills,muchathisease,about2,000bravefellows,brought5,000milesforthatobject。Andobligesyoutowalkawayontheinstant,andquitTiconderoga,likea——surelylikeaverytragicDignitaryinCocked—hat!Tobecashiered,wewillhope;atleasttobelaidontheshelf,andreplacedbysomeWolfeorsomeAmherst,fitterforthebusiness!NorweretheDescentsontheFrenchCoastmuchtospeakof:’GreatGunsgotatCherbourg,’

  thesetruly,asexhibitedinHyde—Park,wereacomfortablesight,especiallytothesimplersort:butontheotherhand,atMorlaix,onthepartofpooroldGeneralBlighandCompany,therehadbeenaPlatitudeequalorsuperiortothatofAbercrombie,thoughnotsotragicalinlossofmen。’Whatofthat?’saidanenthusiasticPublic,strikingtheirbalance,andjoyfullyilluminating。——

  HereisaClippingfromOhioCountry,’LETTERofanOfficer[distilledessenceofTwoLetters],dated,FORT—DUQUESNE,28thNOVEMBER,1758:——

  \"’OursmallCorpsunderGeneralForbes,aftermuchsorescramblingthroughtheWildernesses,andcontendingwithenemieswildandtame,is,sincethelastfourdays,inpossessionofFortDuquesne[PITTSBURGhenceforth]:Friday,24th,theFrenchgarrison,onourappearance,madeoffwithoutfighting;tooktoboatsdowntheOhio,andvanishedoutofthoseCountries,’——foreverandaday,wewillhope。’TheirLouisiana—Canadacommunicationislost;andallthatprodigioustractofrichcountry,’——whichMr。Washingtonfixeduponlongago,isoursagain,ifwecanturnittouse。’ThisdayadetachmentofusgoestoBraddock’sfieldofbattle[poorBraddock!],toburythebonesofourslaughteredcountrymen;

  manyofwhomtheFrenchbutcheredincoldblood,and,totheirowneternalshameandinfamy,haveleftlyingabovegroundeversince。

  AsindeedtheyhavedonewithallthoseslainroundtheFortinlateweeks;’——callingthemselvesacivilizedNationtoo!\"

  [OldNewspapers(inGentleman’sMagazinefor1759,pp。41,39)。]

  LOWERRHINE,JULY—NOVEMBER,1758。\"Ferdinand’smanoeuvres,afterCrefeld,ontheFrance—wardsideofRhine,wereverypretty:

  but,withoutWesel,andversusaBelleisleasWar—Minister,andaContadeswhowassomethingofaGeneral,itwouldnotdo。

  Belleislemadeuncommonexertions,diligenttogethisbrokenpeopledrilledagain;Contadeswaswary,andcounter—manoeuvredratherwell。Finally,Soubise\"(readersrecollecthimandhis24or30,000,whostoodinFrankfurtCountry,onthehitherornorthsideofRhine),famedRossbachSoubise,——\"pushingout,atBelleisle’sbidding,towardsHanover,inaregionvacantotherwiseoftroops,——

  becamedangeroustoFerdinand。’MakingforHanover?’thoughtFerdinand:’Orperhapsmeaningtoattackmy12,000Englishthatarejustlanded?Nay,perhapsmyRhine—Bridgeitself,andthesmallPartyleftthere?’Ferdinandfoundhewouldhavetoreturn,andlookafterSoubise。Crossed,accordingly(August8th),byhisoldBridgeatRees,——whichhefoundsafe,inspiteofattemptstherehadbeen;[\"FightofMeer\"(Chevert,with10,000,beatenoff,andtheBridgesaved,byImhof,with3,000;——bothcleversoldiers;

  Imhofinbetterluck,andfavoredbytheground:\"5thAugust,1758\"):MAUVILLON,i。315。]——andneverrecrossedduringthisWar。

  Judgesevensayhisfirstcrossinghadnevermuchsolidityofoutlookinit;andthoughsodelightfultothepublic,washisquestionableststep。

  \"Onthe12,000English,Soubisehadattemptednothing。

  FerdinandjoinedhisEnglishatSoest(August20th);totheirgreatjoyandhis;[DukeofMarlborough’sheavy—ladenLETTERtoPitt,\"Koesfeld,August15th:\"\"Nothingbutrainsanduncertainties;\"

  \"marching,latterly,uptoourmiddlesinwater;\"havecomefromEmbden,straightsouthtowardsWeselCountry,almost150miles(Soeststillagoodsixtymilestosoutheastofus)。

  CHATHAMCORRESPONDENCE(London,1838),i。334,337。ThepoorDukediedintwomonthshence;andthecommanddevolvedonLordGeorgeSackville,asistoowellknown。]10to12,000asafirstinstalment:——Grand—lookingfellows,saidtheGermans。Anddidyoueverseesuchhorses,suchsplendorofequipment,regardlessofexpense?NottomentionthoseBERGSCHOTTEN(ScotchHighlanders),withtheirbagpipes,sporrans,kilts,andexoticcostumesandways;

  astonishingtotheGermanmind。[RomanticviewoftheBERGSCHOTTEN

  (2,000ofthem,ledbytheJunioroftheRobertKeithsabovementioned,whoisasoldierasyet),inARCHENHOLTZ,i。351—353:

  IB。andinPREUSS,ii。136,ofthe\"uniformswithgoldandsilverlace,\"ofthesuperbhorses,\"oneregimentallroanhorses,anotherallblack,anotherall\"&c。]Outofallwhom(BERGSCHOTTEN

  included),Ferdinand,bymanagement,——andmanagementwasneeded,——

  gotagreatdealoffirst—ratefighting,inthenextFourYears。

  \"Nor,inregardtoHanover,couldSoubisemakeanythingofit;

  thoughhedid(owingtoacoupleofstupidfellows,GeneralPrincevonYsenburgandGeneralOberg,detachedbyFerdinandonthatservice)escapethelivelytreatmentFerdinandhadpreparedforhim;andevengaveakindofBeatingtoeachofthosestupidfellows,[1。\"FightofSandershausen\"(Broglio,asSoubise’svanguard,12,000;VERSUSYsenburg,7,000,whostupidlywouldnotwithdrawTILLbeaten:\"23dJuly,1758,\"BEFOREFerdinandhadcomeacrossagain)。2。FightofLutternberg(Soubise,30,000;

  VERSUSOberg,about18,000,whostupidlyhungbacktillSoubisewasallgathered,andTHEN&c。,stillmorestupidly:\"10thOctober,1758\")。SeeMAUVILLON,i。312(orbetter,ARCHENHOLTZ,i。345);

  andMAUVILLON,i。327。BothLutternbergandSandershausenareintheneighborhoodofCassel;——asmanyofthoseFerdinandfightswere。]——oneofwhich,Oberg’sone,mighthaveruinedObergandhisDetachmentaltogether,hadSoubisebeenalert,whichhebynomeanswas!’ParismadesuchjeeringaboutRossbachandthePrincedeSoubise,’saysVoltaire,[HistoiredeLouisXV。]’andnobodysaidawordaboutthesetwoVictoriesofhis,nextYear!’Forwhichtheremightbetworeasons:one,accordingtoTempelhof,that’theVictorieswereoftheso—sokind(SICWAREN

  AUCHDARNACH);’andanother,thattheywereascribedtoBroglio,onbothoccasions,——howjustly,nobodywillnowargue!

  \"Contadeshadnotfailed,inthemeanwhile,tofollowwiththemainArmy;andwasnowelaboratelymanoeuvringabout;intenttohaveLippstadt,orsomeFortressinthoseRhine—WeserCountries。

  Onthetailofthatsecondso—soVictorybySoubise,Contadesthought,Nowwouldbethechance。Anddidtryhard,butwithouteffect。FerdinandwashimselfattendingContades;andmistakeswerenotlikely。Ferdinand,inthethickofthegame(October21st—

  30th),’madeamasterlymovement’——thatistosay,cutContadesandhisSoubiseirretrievablyasunder:nojunctionnowpossibletothem;theweakerofthemliabletoruin,——unlessContades,thestronger,wouldgivebattle;which,thoughgreatlyoutnumberingFerdinand,hewascautiousnottodo。Amelancholiccautiousman,apttobeover—cautious,——nicknamed’L’APOTHECAIRE’bytheParisians,fromhisdownlooks,——buthadgoodsoldierqualitieswithal。Soubiseandhehaggledabout,ashortwhile,——notalong,inthesedangerouscircumstances;andthenhadtogohomeagain,withoutresult,eachthewayhecame;ContadeshimselfrepassingthroughWesel,andwinteringonhisownsideoftheRhine。\"

  HowPittissucceeding,andaimingtosucceed,ontheFrenchForeignSettlements:ontheGuineaCoast,ontheHighSeaseverywhere;intheWestIndies;stillmoreintheEast,——whereGeneralLally(thatfieryO’MulLALLY,famoussinceFontenoy),missionedwith\"full—powers,\"astheycallthem,isragingupanddown,aboutMadrasandneighborhood,inaviolent,impetuous,moreandmorebankruptmanner:——Ofallthiswecansaynothingforthepresent,littleatanytime。Herearetwofactsofthefinancialsort,sufficientlyilluminative。Themuch—expending,much—

  subsidyingGovernmentofFrancecannotnowborrowexceptat7percentInterest;andtherateofMarineInsurancehasrisento70percent。[Retzow,ii。5。]Onewayandother,hereisaPittclearlyprogressive;andalong—pendingJENKINS’S—EARQUESTIONinafairwaytobesettled!

  FriedrichstaysinSaxonyaboutamonth,inspectingandadjusting;

  thencetoBreslau,forWinter—quarters。HisWinterisliketobeasadandsilentone,thistime;withnoneofthegayetiesoflastYear;theroyalheartheavyenoughwithmanyprivatesorrows,weretherenoneofpublicatall!Thisisawordfromhim,twodaysafterfinishingDaunfortheseason:——

  FRIEDRICHTOMYLORDMARISCHAL(atColombierinNeufchatel)。

  \"DRESDEN,23dNovember,1758。

  \"Thereisnothingleftforus,MONCHERMYLORD,buttomingleandblendourweepingforthelosseswehavehad。Ifmyheadwereafountainoftears,itwouldnotsufficeforthegriefIfeel。

  \"OurCampaignisover;andtherehasnothingcomeofit,ononesideortheother,butthelossofagreatmanyworthypeople,themiseryofagreatmanypoorsoldierscrippledforever,theruinofsomeProvinces,theravage,pillageandconflagrationofsomeflourishingTowns。Exploitsthesewhichmakehumanityshudder:

  sadfruitsofthewickednessandambitionofcertainPeopleinPower,whosacrificeeverythingtotheirunbridledpassions!Iwishyou,MONCHERMYLORD,nothingthathastheleastresemblancetomvdestiny;andeverythingthatiswantingtoit。Youroldfriend,tilldeath。\"——F。[OEuvresdeFrederic,

  xx。273。]

  EndofV18

  HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV19

  byThomasCarlyleBOOKXIX。

  FRIEDRICHLIKETOBEOVERWHELMEDIN

  THESEVEN—YEARSWAR。

  1759—1760。

  ChapterI。

  PRELIMINARIESTOAFOURTHCAMPAIGN。

  ThepostingoftheFiveArmiesthisWinter——FiveoftheminGermany,notcountingtheRussians,whohavevanishedtoCimmeriaoverthehorizon,fortheirmonthsofrest——issomethingwonderful,andstrikesthepicturesqueimagination。SuchaChainofPosts,forlength,iffornothingelse!FromthecentreofBohemiaeastward,Daun’sAustriansarespreadallroundthewesternSilesianBorderandthesoutheasternSaxon;waitedonbyPrussians,inmoreorlessproximity。NextaretheReichsfolk;scatteredoverThuringenandtheFranconianCountries;frontingpartlyintoHessenandDukeFerdinand’soutskirts:——themainbodyofDukeFerdinandisfartowestward,inMunsterCountry,vigilantuponContades,withtheRhinebetween。ContadesandSoubise,——adjoiningontheReichsfolkaretheseTwoFrenchArmies:Soubise’s,some25,000,inFrankfurt—

  EmsCountry,betweentheMaynandtheLahn,withitsbacktotheRhine;thenContades,onwardtoMaesRiverandtheDutchBorders,withhisfacetotheRhine,——andDukeFerdinandobservantofhimontheotherside。Thatisthe\"CORDONofPosts\"orwinter—quartersthisYear。\"FromtheGiantMountainsandtheMetalMountains,totheOcean;——tothemouthofRhine,\"maywenotsay;\"andbackagaintotheSwissAlpsorspringsofRhine,thatUpper—RhineCountrybeingalleitherFrenchorAustrian,andabasisforSoubise?\"

  [Archenholtz,i。306。]NottospeakofOceanitself,anditswingedWar—Fleets,lonesomelyhoveringandpatrolling;oroftheAmericasandIndiesbeyond!

  \"ThisissuchaChainofmutuallyvigilantWinter—quarters,\"saysArchenholtz,\"aswasneverdrawninGermany,orinEurope,before。\"

  Chainofabout300,000fightingmen,pouredoutinthatlengthymanner。Takingtheirwintersiestathere,asleepwithoneeyeopen,tillreinforcedfornewbusinessofdeathanddestructionagainstSpring。Patheticsurely,aswellaspicturesque。\"ThreeCampaignstherehavealreadybeen,\"sighsthepeaceableobserver:

  \"ThreeCampaigns,surelyfuriousenough;ElevenBattlesinthem,\"

  [Stenzel,v。185。This,Isuppose,wouldbehisenumeration:

  LOBOSITZ(1756);PRAG,KOLIN,Hastenbeck,Gross—Jagersdorf,ROSSBACH,Breslau,LEUTHEN,(1757);Crefeld,ZORNDORF,HOCHKIRCH

  (1758):\"elevenhithertoinall。\"]aPrag,aKolin,Leuthen,Rossbach;——musttherestillbeothers,then,tothemiseryofpoormankind?\"thussighmanypeacefulpersons。Notconsideringwhatare,andhavebeen,therages,theiniquities,theloudandsilentdeliriums,themadblindnessesandsinsofmankind;andwhatamount,ofCALCININGthesemayreasonablytake。NotcalcinableinthreeCampaignsatall,itwouldappear!FourmoreCampaignsareneeded:thentherewillbeinnocuousashesinquantity;andaresultunexpected,andworthmarkinginWorld—History。

  ItisnotablyoneofFriedrich’sfondhopes,——ofwhichhekeepsupseveral,asbrightcloud—hangingsinthehaggardinnerworldhenowhas,——thatPeaceisjustathand;onerightstrugglemore,andPeacemustcome!AndonthepartofBritannicGeorgeandhim,repeatedattemptsweremade,——oneintheendofthisYear1759;——butoneandallofthemprovedfutile,and,unlessforaccidentalreasons,neednotbementionedhere。Manymen,inallnations,longforPeace;butthereareThreeWomenatthetopoftheworldwhodonot;theirwrath,variousinquality,isgreatinquantity,anddisastersdothereverseofappeasingit。

  TheFrenchpeople,asisnatural,arewearyofaWarwhichyieldsthemmerelossesanddisgraces;\"WarcarriedonforAustrianwhims,whichlikewiseseemtobeimpracticable!\"thinkthey。AndtheirBernishimself,MinisterofForeignAffairs,whobeganthissadFrench—AustrianAdventure,hasalreadybeenremonstratingwithKaunitz,andgrumblinganxiously,\"CouldnottheSwedes,orsomebody,begottomediate?SuchaWaristooruinous!\"Hearingwhich,thePompadourisshockedatthefavoritecreatureofherhands;hastenstodismisshim(\"BeCardinalthen,youingrateofaBernis;disappearunderthatRedHat!\")——andappoints,inhisstead,oneChoiseul(knownhithertoasSTAINVILLE,ComtedeStainville,FrenchExcellencyatVienna,butnowmadeDukeonthispromotion),DucdeChoiseul;[MinisterofForeignAffairs,\"11thNovember,1758\"(Barbier,iv。294)。]whoisaLorrainer,orSemi—

  Austrian,byverybirth;andprobablymuchfitterfortheplace。

  Aswift,impetuouskindofman,thisChoiseul,whoisstillratheryoungthanotherwise;plentyofproudspiritinhim,ofshifts,talentoftherecklesssort;whoprovedverynotableinFranceforthenexttwentyyears。

  Frenchtradebeingruinedwithal,moneyisrunningdreadfullylow:

  buttheyappointanewController—General;aM。deSilhouette,whoisthoughttohaveanextraordinarycreativegeniusinFinance。

  HadhebutaFortunatus—Purse,howluckywereit!WithFortunatusSilhouetteaspurse—holder,withafieryyoungChoiseulonthishand,andafieryoldBelleisleonthat,PompadourmeditatesgreatthingsthisYear,——InvasionsofEngland;strongerGermanArmies;

  betterGermanPlans,andslashingshomeuponHanoveritself,orthevitalpoint;——andflattersherself,andherpoorLouis,thatthereisontheanvil,for1759,suchaFrenchCampaignaswillperhapsastonishPittandanotherinsolentKing。Veryfixed,fellandfeminineisthePompadour’shumorinthismatter。NoristheCzarina’slessso;butmore,ifpossible;unappeasableexceptbydeath。ImperialMariaTheresahasmasculinereasonswithal;

  greathopes,too,oflate。OftheWar’sendingtillflatimpossibilitystopit,thereisnolikelihood。

  ToPittthisCampaign1759,inspiteofbadomensattheoutset,provedaltogethersplendid:butgreatlythereverseonFriedrich’sside;towhomitwasthemostdisastrousandunfortunatehehadyetmade,ordidevermake。Pittathiszenithinpublicreputation;

  Friedrichneversolowbefore,nothingseeminglybutextinctionnearahead,whenthisYearended。Thetruthis,apartfromhisspecificpiecesofill—luck,therehadnowbegunforFriedrichanewruleofprocedure,whichmuchalteredhisappearanceintheworld。Thriceoverhadhetriedbytheaggressiveorinvasivemethod;thriceovermadeaplungeattheenemy’sheart,hopingsotodisarmorlamehim:butthat,withresourcesspenttosuchadegree,iswhathecannotdoafourthtime:heistooweakhenceforthtothinkofthat。

  PrussiahasalwaysitsKing,andhisunrivalledtalent;butthatisprettymuchtheonlyfixeditem:PrussiaVERSUSFrance,Austria,Russia,SwedenandtheGermanReich,whatisitasafieldofsuppliesforwar!ExceptitsKing,thesearefailing,yearbyyear;

  andataratefatallySWIFTincomparison。FriedrichcannotnowdoLeuthens,Rossbachs;far—shiningfeatsofvictory,whichastonishalltheworld。HisfinePrussianveteranshavemostlyperished;

  andhavebeenreplacedbynewleviesandrecruits;whoareinferiorbothindisciplineandnativequality;——thoughtheyhavestill,peoplesay,anoteworthytasteoftheoldPrussiansortinthem;

  anddo,infact,fightwelltothelast。But\"itisobservable,\"

  saysRetzowsomewhere,andindeeditfollowsfromthenatureofthecase,\"thatwhilethePrussianArmypresentsalwaysitsbestkindofsoldiersatthebeginningofawar,Austria,suchareitsresourcesinpopulation,alwaysimprovesinthatparticular,anditsbesttroopsappearinthelastcampaigns。\"Inaword,Friedrichstandsonthedefensivehenceforth;disputinghisgroundinchbyinch:andisreduced,moreandmore,tobattleobscurelywithahydra—coilofenemiesandimpediments;andtodoheroismswhichmakenonoiseintheGazettes。And,alas,whichcannotfigureinHistoryeither,——whatismoreasorrowtomehere!

  Friedrich,sayalljudgesofsoldiershipandhumancharacterwhohavestudiedFriedrichsufficiently,\"isgreaterthanever,\"inthesefourYearsnowcoming。[Berenhorst,inKriegskunst;

  Retzow;&c。]Andthis,Ihavefoundmoreandmoretobeatruething;verifiableanddemonstrableintimeandplace,——

  though,unluckilyforus,hardlyinthistimeorthisplaceatall!

  Athingwhichcannot,byanymethod,bemademanifesttothegeneralreader;whodelightsinshiningsummaryfeats,andisimpatientoftediouspreliminariesandinvestigations,——especiallyofMAPS,whicharetheindispensablestrequisiteofall。Athing,inshort,thatbelongspeculiarlytosoldier—students;whocanundergothedullpreliminaries,mostdullbutmostinexorablyneeded;andcanfollowout,withwatchfulintelligence,andwithapatiencenottobewearied,themultifarioustopographies,detailsofmovementsandmanoeuvrings,yearafteryear,onsuchaTheatreofWar。Whatistobedonewithithere!Ifwecould,bysignificantstrokes,indicate,underfeaturestruesofarastheywent,thegreatwidefire—floodthatwasragingroundtheworld;

  ifwecould,carefullyomittingverymanythings,omitofthethingsintelligibleanddecipherablethatconcernFriedrichhimself,nothingthathadmeaning:IFindeed——!Butitisidlepreluding。Forwardagain,bravereader,undersuchconditionsasthereare!

  Friedrich’sWinterinBreslauwasofsecluded,silent,sombrecharacter,thistime;nothingofstirinitbutfromworkonly:

  inmarkedcontrastwiththelast,anditskindlyvisitorsandgayeties。AFriedrichgivenuptohismanifoldbusinesses,tohissilentsorrows。\"IhavepassedmywinterlikeaCarthusianmonk,\"

  hewritestoD’Argens:\"Idinealone;Ispendmylifeinreadingandwriting;andIdonotsup。Whenoneissad,itbecomesatlasttooburdensometohideone’sgriefcontinually;anditisbettertogivewaytoitbyoneself,thantocarryone’sgloomintosociety。

  Nothingsolacesmebutthevigorousapplicationrequiredinsteadyandcontinuouslabor。Thisdistractiondoesforceonetoputawaypainfulideas,whileitlasts:but,alas,nosooneristheworkdone,thanthesefatalcompanionspresentthemselvesagain,asiflivelierthanever。Maupertuiswasright:thesumofevildoescertainlysurpassthatofgood:——buttomeitisallone;Ihavealmostnothingmoretolose;andmyfewremainingdays,whatmattersitmuchofwhatcomplexiontheybe?\"[\"Breslau,1stMarch,1759,\"ToD’Argens(OEuvresdeFrederic,

  xix。56)。]

  ThelossofhisWilhelmina,hadtherebeennoothergrief,hasdarkenedallhislifetoFriedrich。Readersarenotpreparedforthedetailsofgriefwecouldgive,andthesettledgloomofmindtheyindicate。Alossirreparableandimmeasurable;thelightoflife,theonelovedheartthatlovedhim,gone。HispassionateappealstoVoltairetocelebrateforhiminversehislosttreasure,andatleastmakehervirtuesimmortal,areperhapsknowntoreaders:[ODESURLAMORTDES。A。S。MADAMELAPRINCESSEDE

  BAREITH(inOEuvresdeVoltaire,xviii。

  79—86):seeFriedrich’sLettertohim(6thNovember,1758);

  withVoltaire’sVERSESinAnswer(nextmonth);Friedrich’snewLetter(Breslau,23dJanuary1759),demandingsomethingmore,——

  followedbytheODEjustcited(Ib。lxxii。402;lxxviii。82,92;

  orOEuvresdeFrederic,xxiii。20—24:&c。]

  alas,thisisaveryfeeblekindofimmortality,andFriedrichtoowellfeelsitsuch。AllWinterhedwellsinternallyonthesadmatter,thoughsoonfallingsilentonittoothers。

  TheWarisevermoredarkanddismaltohim;awearing,harassing,nearlydisgustingtask;onwhich,however,dependslifeordeath。

  ThisYear,he\"expectstohave300,000enemiesuponhim;\"and\"is,withhisutmosteffort,gettingup150,000tosetagainstthem。\"

  Ofbusiness,initsmanykinds,therecanbenolack!Intheintervalshealsowroteconsiderably:oneofhisPiecesisaSERMON

  ONTHELASTJUDGMENT;handedtoReaderDeCatt,oneevening:——toDeCatt’ssurprise,andtoours;theVoicelessinadarkFriedrichtryingtogiveitselfsomevoiceinthisway![OEuvresdeFrederic,xv。1—10(seePreuss’sPREFACEthere;

  Formey,SOUVENIRS,i。37;&c。&c。]AnotherPiece,altogetherpractical,anddonewithexcellentinsight,brevity,modesty,isONTACTICS;[REFLEXIONSSURLATACTIQUE:

  inOEuvresdeFrederic,xxviii。153—166。]——

  properlyitmightbecalled,\"SeriousveryPrivateThoughts,\"

  thrownonpaper,andcommunicatedonlytotwoorthree,\"OnthenewkindofTacticsnecessarywiththoseAustriansandtheirAllies,\"

  whoareinsuchoverwhelmingstrength。\"Towhosecontinualsluggishness,andstrangewantofconcert,towhoseincoherencyofmovements,languorofexecution,andotherenormousfaults,wehaveowed,withsomeexcuseforourownfaults,ourescapingofdestructionhitherto,\"——buthadbetterNOTtrustthatwayanylonger!Fouquetisoneofthehighlyselect,towhomhecommunicatesthisPiece;addingalongwithit,inFouquet’scase,anaffectionatelittleNote,and,inspiteofpoverty,someNew—year’sGift,asusual,——the\"Widow’sMite[300pounds,wefind];receiveitwiththesameheartwithwhichitwassetapartforyou:asmallhelp,whichyoumaywellhaveneedof,inthesecalamitoustimes。\"[\"Breslau,23dDecember,1758;\"withFouquet’sAnswer,2dJanuary,1759:inOEuvresdeFrederic,xx。114—117。]FouquetmuchadmiresthenewTacticalSuggestions;——seemstothink,however,thatthecertainlypracticableoneis,inparticular,thelast,Thatof\"improvingourArtillerytosomeequalitywiththeirs。\"Forwhich,asmayappear,theKinghasalreadybeentakingthought,inmorewaysthanone。

  FinanceisnaturallyaheavypartofFriedrich’sProblem;thepartwhichlooksespeciallyimpossible,fromourpointofvision!

  InFriedrich’sCountry,theWarBudgetdoesnotdifferfromthePeaceone。Neitherisanyborrowingpossible;thatsublimeArt,ofrollingoveronyouknownotwhomtheexpenditure,needfulorneedless,ofyourheavy—ladenself,hadnotyet——thoughEnglandisbusyatit——beeninventedamongNations。Once,orperhapstwice,fromtheSTANDEofsomewillingProvince,FriedrichnegotiatedsomesmallLoan;whichwaspunctuallyrepaidwhenPeacecame,andwasalwaysgratefullyremembered。Buttheseareasnothing,infaceofsuchexpenses;andthethoughthowhedidcontriveontheFinanceside,isandwasnotalittlewonderful。AningeniousPredecessor,whomIsometimesquote,hasexpressedhimselfinthesewords:——

  \"SuchmodicumofSubsidy[heisspeakingoftheEnglishSubsidyin1758],howusefulwillitproveinaCountrybredeverywheretoSpartanthrift,accustomedtoregardwasteassin,andwhichwilllayoutnopennyexcepttopurpose!IguessthePrussianExchequeris,bythistime,muchontheebb;idlepreciousmetalstendingeverywheretowardsthemelting—pot。AtwhatprecisedatetheFriedrich—Wilhelmbalustrades,andenormoussilverfurnitures,werefirstgoneinto,Dryasdusthasnotinformedme:butweknowtheyallwent;astheywellmight。TomenothingissowonderfulasFriedrich’sBudgetduringthisWar。Onedayitwillbecarefullyinvestigated,elucidatedandmadeconceivableandcertaintomankind:butthatasyetisfarfrombeingthecase。Wewalkaboutinitwithastonishment;almost,wereitpossible,withincredulity。Expenditureonthisside,workdoneonthat:

  humannature,especiallyBritishhumannature,refusestoconceiveit。Neverinthisworld,beforeorsince,wasthelike。

  TheFriedrichmiraclesinWararegreat;butthoseinFinancearealmostgreater。LetDryasdustbethinkhim;andgirdhisflabbyloinstothisEnterprise;whichisverybehoovefulintheseCaliforniantimes!\"——

  ThegeneralSecretofPrussianThrift,Idofear,islostfromtheworld。AndhowanArmyofabout200,000,infieldandgarrison,couldbekeptonfoot,andinsomeabilitytofrontcombinedEurope,onaboutThreeMillionSterlingannually(\"25millionTHALERS\"=3,150,000pounds,thatisthesteadyWar—Budgetofthoseyears),remainstousinconceivableenough;——mournfullymiraculous,asitwere;andgrowingevermoresointheNugget—generationsthatnowrun。Meanwhile,herearewhathintsIcouldfind,ontheOriginsofthatmodestSum,whichalsoareawonder:[Preuss,ii。

  388—392;Stenzel,v。137—141。]——

  \"ThehoardedPrussianMoneys,or’TREASURES’[twoofthem,KLEINE

  SCHATZ,GROSSESCHATZ,whicharerigidlysavedinPeaceyears,forincidenceofWar],beingnearlyrunout,therehadcometheEnglishSubsidy:this,withSaxony,andtheHomerevenuesandremnantsofSCHATZhadsufficedfor1758;butwillnolongersuffice。NexttoSaxony,theEnglishSubsidy(670,000poundsduethesecondtimethisyear)wasalwaysFriedrich’sprincipalresource:andinthelatteryearsoftheWar,Iobserve,itwasnearlytwicetheamountofwhatallhisPrussianCountriestogether,intheirravagedandworn—outstate,couldyieldhim。Inandafter1759,besidesHomeIncome,whichisgraduallydiminishing,andEnglishSubsidy,whichisasteadyquantity,Friedrich’ssourcesofrevenuearemainlyTwo:——

  \"FIRST,thereisthatofwringingmoneyfromyourEnemies,fromthosethathavedeservedillofyou,——suchofthemasyoucancomeat。Enemies,openorsecret,evenIll—wishers,wearenotparticular,providedonlytheyliewithinarm’s—length。UnderthisheadfallprincipallythreeCountries(andtheirthreepoorPopulations,inlieuoftheirGovernments):Saxony,Mecklenburg(orthemainpartofit,Mecklenburg—SCHWERIN),andAnhalt;fromthesethreethereisacontinualforcedsupplyofmoneyandfurnishings。

  TheirdemeritstoFriedrichdiffermuchinintensity;norishiswringingofthem——whichinthecasesofMecklenburgandSaxonyincreasesyearbyyeartothenearlyintolerablepitch——quiteinthesimpleratiooftheirdemerits;butinacompoundratioofthatandofhisindignationandofhiswants。

  \"Saxony,asPrimeAuthorofthisWar,wasfromthefirstlaidholdof,collaredtightly:’Paytheshot,then,whatyoucan’(intheenditwasalmostwhatyoucannot)!AstoMecklenburg—Schwerin,thegrudgeagainstPrussiawasofveryoldstanding,somegenerationsnow;andthepresentDuke,notaverywiseSovereignmorethanhisAncestors,hadalwaysbeenillwithFriedrich;willingtospiteandhurthimwhenpossible:inReichsDiethe,ofallGermanPrinces,wasthefirstthatvotedforFriedrich’sbeingputtoBanoftheReich,——he;andhispoorPeopleknowsincewhetherthatwasawisestep!ThelittleAnhaltPrinces,too,alltheAnhalts,Dessau,Bernburg,Cothen,Zerbst[perhapsthelatterpartiallyexcepted,foracertainRussianLady’ssake],hadvoted,oratleasthadambiguouslyhalf—voted,infavoroftheBan,anddoneotherunfriendlythings;andhadnowtopaydearfortheirbitsofenmities。Poorsouls,theyhadbutOneVoteamongthemallFour;——

  andtheyonlyhalfgaveit,tremulouslypullingitbackagain。

  Ishouldguessitwastheirterrorsmainly,andover—readinesstoreckonFriedrichasinkingship;andtoleapfromthedeckofhim,——withaspurnwhichhetookforinsolent!TheAnhalt—Dessauersparticularly,whowereonceofhisveryArmy,halfPrussiansforgenerationsback,hereckonedtohaveusedhimscandalouslyill。

  \"ThisYeartherequisitionontheFourAnhalts——whichtheysubmittopatiently,aspeoplewhohaveleaptintothewrongship——is,inprecisetale:ofmoney,330,000thalers(about50,000pounds);

  recruits,2,200;horses,1,800。InSaxony,besidesthefixedTaxes,strictconfiscationofMeissenPotteriesandeveryRoyalty,therewereexactedheavy’Contributions,’moreandmoreheavy,fromthefewopulentTowns,chieflyfromLeipzig;whichwerewrungout,latterly,undergreatseverities,——’chiefmerchantsofLeipzigallclaptinprison,keptonbread—and—watertilltheyyielded,’——AS

  greatseveritiesaswouldsuffice,butNOTgreater;whichalsowasnoted。UnfortunatechiefmerchantsofLeipzig,——withBruhlandPolishMajestylittlelikelytoindemnifythem!UnfortunateCountryaltogether。AnintelligentSaxon,whoisvouchedforasimpartial,bearswitnessasfollows:’AndthisIknow,thattheoppressionsandplunderingsoftheAustriansandReichsfolk,inSaxony,turnedallheartsawayfromthem;anditwaspubliclysaid,WehadratherbearthesteadyburdenofthePrussiansthansuchhelpastheseourpretendedDeliverersbring。’[Stenzel(citingfromKRIEGSKANZLEI,whichIhavenot),v。137n。]Whereby,onthewhole,thepoorCountrygotitsbackbroken,andcouldneverlookupintheworldsince。ResourceFIRSTwasabundantlysevere。

  \"ResourceSECONDisstrangestofall;——andhasgivenrisetocriticismenough!Itisnootherthanthatofissuingbasemoney;

  mixingyourgoldandsilvercoinwithcopper,——this,onegrievestosay,istheSecondandextremeresource。(Arudemethod——wouldwehadabetter——ofsuspendingCash—payments,andpayingbybank—notesinstead!’thinksFriedrich,Isuppose。FromhisPrussianMints,fromhisSaxon[whicharehisforthepresent],andfromthelittleAnhalt—BernburgMint[ofwhichheexpresslypurchasedthesadprivilege,——forwearenotaCoiner,weareaKingreducedtosuspendCash—payments,forthetimebeing],FriedrichpouredoutoverallGermany,inallmannerofkinds,hugequantitiesofbadCoin。This,solongasitwouldlast,ismoreandmoreacopiousfountainofsupply。This,forthefirsttime,hashadtoappearasaniteminWar—Budget1759:anditfailsinnofollowing,butexpandsmoreandmore。ItwasdonethroughEphraim,thenotlovelyBerlinJew,whomweusedtohearofinVoltaire’stime;——throughEphraimandtwoothers,EphraimasPresident:inreturnforanetSum,theseshallhaveprivilegetocoinsuchandsuchamounts,soandsoalloyed;shallpaytoGeneralTauentzien,ArmyTreasurer,atfixedterms,theSumsspecified:’Go,anddoit;ourMint—Officerssharplywatchingyou;Mint—Officers,andGeneralTauentzien[withayoungHerrLessing,ashisChiefClerk,ofwhomtheKingknowsnothing];Go,yeunlovely!’AndEphraimandCompanyaremakingagreatdealofmoneybytheunlovelyjob。Ephraimisthepairoftongs,thehand,andtheunlovelyjob,arearoyalman’s。

  Alas,yes。AndnoneofusknowsbetterthanKingFriedrich,perhapsfewofusaswell,howlittlelovelyajobitwas;howshockinglyUNkinglyitwas,——thoughapracticenotunknowntoGermanKingsandKingletsbeforehistime,andsincedownalmosttoours。

  [InSTENZEL(v。141)enumerationofeightornineunhappyPotentates,whowerebusywithitinthosesameyears。]Infact,theseareallunkinglypractices;——andtheEnglishSubsidyitselfisdistastefultoaproudFriedrich:butwhat,inthosecircumstances,cananyFriedrichdo?

  \"ThefirstcoinagesofEphraimhad,itseems,inthemabout3—7thsofcopper;somethinglessthanthehalf,andmorethanthethird,\"

  ——yourgoldsovereigngrowntobeworth28s。6d。\"Butyearlyitgrewworse;andin1762[EnglishSubsidyhavingfailed]mattershadgotinverted;andtherewasthreetimesasmuchcopperassilver。

  Commerce,aswasnatural,wentrockingandtossing,asonaseaunderearthquakes;buttherewasalwaysreadymoneyamongFriedrich’ssoldiers,asamongnoother:nordidthecommonpeople,orretailpurchasers,sufferbyit。’Hah,anEphraimite!’theywouldsay,grinningnotill—humoredly,atsightofoneofthesepieces;someofwhichtheyhadmorespecificallynamed’BLUE—GOWNS’

  [owingtoatintofblueperceivable,inspiteoftheindustriousplatinginrealsilver,oratleast\"boilinginsomesolution\"ofit];thesetheywouldsalutewiththisrhyme,thencurrent:——

  \"Vonaussenschon,vaninnenschlimm;

  VonaussenFriedrich,voninnenEphraim。

  Outsidenoble,insideslim:

  OutsideFriedrich,insideEphraim。

  \"Bythistime,whateverofmoney,fromanysource,canbescrapedtogetherinFriedrich’sworld,flowswhollyintotheArmy—Chest,astherealcitadeloflife。IntheselatteryearsoftheWar,beginning,Icouldguess,from1759,allCivilexpenditures,andwagesofOfficials,ceasetobepaidinmoney;nobodyofthatkindseesthecolorevenofbadcoin;butispaidonlyin’PaperAssignments,’inPromisestoPay’afterthePeace。’ThesePaperDocumentsmadenopretencetotherankofCurrency:suchholdersofthemashadmoney,orfriends,andcouldwait,gotpunctualpaymentwhenthetermdidarrive;butthosethatcouldnot,sufferedgreatly;havingtonegotiatetheirdebenturesonruinousterms,——

  sometimesatanexpenseofthree—fourths。——IwilladdFriedrich’spracticalScheduleofAmountsfromallthesevariousSources;

  andwhatFriedrich’sownviewoftheSourceswas,whenhecouldsurveythemfromthesafedistance。

  \"SCHEDULEOFAMOUNTS[sayfor1761]。TomakeuptheTwenty—fiveMillionthalers,necessaryfortheArmy,thereare:——

  \"FromourPrussianCountries,ruined,harriedasTHALERS

  theyhavebeen,……4millionsonly。

  FromSaxonyandtheotherWringings,……7millions。

  EnglishSubsidy(4ofgoodgold;becopperedintodouble),……8\"

  FromEphraimandhisFarmoftheMint(MUNZ—PATENT),……7\"

  InsumTwenty—sixMillions;leavingyouoneMillionofmargin,——

  andalwaysaplentyofcashinhandforincidentalsundries。

  [Preuss,ii。388。]

  \"Friedrich’sownviewofthesesadmatters,ashecloseshisHistoryoftheSeven—YearsWar[at\"Berlin,17thDecember,1763\"],isinthesewords:’MayHeavengrant,——ifHeavendeigntolookdownonthepaltryconcernsofmen,——thattheunalterableandflourishingdestinyofthisCountrypreservetheSovereignswhoshallgovernitfromthescourgesandcalamitieswhichPrussiahassufferedinthesetimesoftroubleandsubversion;thattheymayneveragainbeforcedtorecurtotheviolentandfatalremedieswhichwe(L’ON)havebeenobligedtoemployinmaintenanceoftheStateagainsttheambitioushatredoftheSovereignsofEurope,whowishedtoannihilatetheHouseofBrandenburg,andexterminatefromtheworldwhateverborethePrussianname!’\"[OEuvresdeFrederic,

  v。234。]

  OFTHESMALL—WARINSPRING,1759。THEREAREFIVEDISRUPTIONS

  OFTHATGRANDCORDON(February—April);ANDFERDINANDOF

  BRUNSWICKFIGHTSHISBATTLEOFBERGEN(April13th)。

  Friedrich,beingdeniedanaggressivecoursethisYear,bynomeanssitsidlyexpectantanddefensiveintheinterim;but,allthemorevigorously,asisobservable,fromFebruaryonwards,strikesoutfromhimoneveryside:endeavoringtospoiltheEnemy’sMagazines,andcripplehisoperationsinthatway。Sothattherewas,allwinterthrough,agooddealofSmall—War(someofitnotSmall),ofmoreimportancethanusual,——chieflyofFriedrich’soriginating,withtheaboveview,orofFerdinandhisAlly’s,onastillmorepressingscore。And,onthewhole,thatimmenseAustrian—FrenchCordon,whichgoesfromtheCarpathianstotheOcean,hadbynomeansaquiettime;butwasbrokeninto,andviolentlyhurledback,indifferentparts:somefour,orevenfive,attacksuponitinall;threeofthembyPrinceHenri,——intwoofwhichDukeFerdinand’speopleco—operated;thebusinessbeingformutualbehoof。TheselatterThreewerefamousintheworld,thatWinter;

  andindeedarestillrecognizableasbrilliantproceduresoftheirkind;though,exceptdatesandresults,wecanaffordalmostnothingofthemhere。TheseThree,intendedchieflyagainstReichspeopleandtheirPostsandMagazines,felloutonthewesternandmiddlepartoftheCordon。Anotherattackwasintheextremeeastward,andwasforFriedrich’sownbehoof;underFouquet’smanagement;——intendedagainsttheAustrian—MoravianMagazinesandPreparations,buthadlittlesuccess。Stillanotherassault,orinvasiveoutroad,northwardagainsttheRussianMagazines,therealsowas;ofwhichbyandby。Besidesallwhich,andmorememorablethanall,DukeFerdinand,forvitalreasonsofhisown,foughtaBattlethisSpring,considerableBattle,anddidNOTgainit;

  whichmadegreatnoiseintheworld。

  Itisnotnecessarythereadershouldloadhismemorywithdetailsofallthesepreliminarythings;onthecontrary,itisnecessarythathekeephismemoryclearforthefarmoreimportantthingsthatlieaheadofthese,andentertaintheseinasummaryway,asakindofforegroundtowhatiscoming。PerhapsthefollowingFractionsofNote,whichputmattersinsomethingofChronologicalorSynopticalform,willsufficehim,ormorethansuffice。HeistounderstandthatthegrandtugofWar,thisYear,graduallyturnsoutnottobehereabouts,norwithDaunandhisadjacenciesatall,butwiththeRussians,whoarrivefromtheoppositeNorthernquarter;andthatallelsewillprovetobemerelyprefatoryandnugatoryincomparison。

  JANUARY2d,1759:FRANKFURT—ON—MAYN,THOUGHITISAREICHSTADT,FINDSITSELFSUDDENLYBECOMEFRENCH。\"PrincedeSoubiseliesbetweenMaynandLahn,withhis25,000;beautifullysafeandconvenient,——thoughilloffforaplace—of—armsinthoseparts。

  OpulentFrankfurt,onhisright;howhandywouldthatbe,werenotReichsLawsoexpress!Marburg,Giessenareoutpostsofhis;

  onwhichsideoneofFerdinand’speople,PrincevonYsenburg,watcheshimwithan8or10,000,capableofmischiefinthatquarter。

  \"OntheEveofNew—year’sday,orontheauspiciousDayitself,Soubiserequests,oftheFrankfurtAuthorities,permissionforaregimentofhistomarchthroughthatImperialCity。Towhich,bylawandtheory,theImperialCitycansayYesorNo;

  butpracticallycannot,withoutgraveinconvenience,sayotherthanYes,thoughmostFrankfurterswishitcould。’Yes,’answertheFrankfurtMagnates;Yessurely,undertheknownconditions。

  Tuesday,January2d,about5inthemorning,whileallisstilldarkinFrankfurt,regimentNassauappears,accordingly,attheSachsenhausenGate,Town—guardpeopleallreadytoreceiveitandescortitthrough;andisadmittedasusual。Quiteasusual:butinsteadofbeingescortedthrough,itorders,incalmperemptoryvoice,theTown—guard,Togroundarms;withcalmrapidityproceedstoadmittenotherregimentsorbattalions,sixofthemGerman;

  seizestheartilleryontheWalls,seizesalltheotherGates:——andpoorFrankfurtfindsitselftiedhandandfoot,almostbeforeitisoutofbed!Donewithgreatexactitude,withtheminimumofconfusion,andwithoutahurtskintoanybody。TheInhabitantsstoodsilent,gazing;theTown—guardlaiddowntheirarms,andwenthome。TotallyagainstLaw;butcleverlydone;perhapsSoubise’schiefexploitintheworld;certainlytheonerealsuccesstheFrenchhaveyethad。

  \"SoubisemadehastetosummontheMagistrates:’LawofNecessityalone,mosthonoredSirs!ReichsLawisclearagainstme。Butallthemoreshallprivateliberties,religions,properties,inthisImperialFree—Town,besacredtous。Defenceagainstanyaggression:andthestrictestdisciplineobserved。Dependonme,I

  bidyou!’——Andkepthiswordtoanhonorabledegree,theysay;

  orinabsence,madeitbekept,duringtheFourYearsthatfollow。

  MostFrankfurtersare,atheart,Anti—French:butSoubise’saffabilitywasperfect;andhegaveeveningpartiesofasublimecharacter;theMagistratesallappearingthere,intheirsquareperukesandlonggowns,withamournfuljoy。\"[Tempelhof,iii。7—8;

  Stenzel,v。198—200。]

  Soubisesoonwenthome,toassistinimportantbusinesses,——

  InvasionofEngland,noless;letEnglandlooktoitselfthisSummer!——andBrogliosucceededhim,asArmy—CaptainintheFrankfurtparts;withlaurelsaccruing,moreorless。Soubise,likeBroglio,beganwithRossbach;SoubiseendswithFrankfurt,forthepresent;whereBroglioalsogainshischieflaurels,aswillshortlybeseen。FrankfurtisagreatgaintoFrance,thoughanillicitone。ItputsabaronDukeFerdinandinthatquarter;

  securesastarting—pointforattacksonHessen,Hanover;

  forco—operationwithContadesandtheLowerRhine。ItistheonesuccessFrancehasyethadinthisWar,orprettymuchthatiteverhadinit。DuetoPrincedeSoubise,inthatillegalfashion。——

  AhighlyremarkablelittleBoy,nowinhistenthyear,JohannWolfgangGoethe,hashiswonderingeyesonthesethings:and,shortwhilehence,meetsdaily,onthestairsandlobbiesathome,apleasantFrenchOfficialGentlemenwhoisquarteredthere;

  ——————page195BookXIX—————^[sic]———————————

  betweenwhomandPapaoccurrubs,——asreadersmayremember,andshallhearinAprilcoming。

  GRANDCORDONDISRUPTED:ERFURTCOUNTRY,16thFEBRUARY—2dMARCH。

  \"AboutsixweeksafterthisFrankfurtachievement,certainReichsfolkandAustrianAuxiliariesareobservedtobecuttingdownendlesstimber,’18,800palisades,6,000treesof60feet,’andotherhugefurnishings,fromthepoorDukeofGotha’swoods;

  evidentlymeaningtofortifythemselvesinErfurt。UponwhichPrinceHenridetachesaGeneralKnoblochthitherward,DukeFerdinandcontributing4,000tomeethimthere;whichcombinedexpedition,aftersomesharpknockingandshoving,entirelydisrootedtheAustriansandReichsfolk,andsentthempacking。

  Hadthemquitetornoutbytheendofthemonth;andhadplannedto’attackthemontwosidesatonce’(March2d),withaviewofswallowingthemwhole,——whenthey(theseReichsVolscians,insuchastateofflutter)privatelyhastenedoff,oneandallofthem,thedaybefore。\"[Narrative,inHelden—Geschichte,v。1022etseq。]

  ThiswasBREAKAGEFIRSToftheGrandCordon;anexplosivehurlingofitbackoutofthoseErfurtparts。DonebyPrinceHenri’speople,inconcertwithDukeFerdinand’s,——whoweremutuallyinterestedinthething。

  BREAKAGESECOND:ERFURT—FULDACOUNTRY,31stMARCH—8thAPRIL。

  \"AbouttheendofMarch,theseintrusiveAustrianReichsfolkmadesomeattempttocomebackintothoseCountries;butagaingotnothingbuthardknocks;andgaveuptheErfurtproject。For,closefollowingonthisFIRST,therewasaSECONDstilldeeperandrougherBreakage,inthosesameregions;theHereditaryPrinceofBrunswickdashingthrough,onaspecialErrandofFerdinand’sown[ofwhichpresently],withan8or10,000,inhisusualfierymanner;homeintotheverybowelsoftheReich(April3d,andforaweekonward);andreturningwith’above2,000prisoners’inhand;

  especiallywithaReichwellfrightenedbehindhim;——stillintimeforDukeFerdinand’sAdventure[infact,forhisBattleofBergen,ofwhichwearetohear]。HadbeenwellassistedbyPrinceHenri,who’madednngerousdemonstrationsinthedistance,’andwasextremelydiligent——thoughtheinterestwaschieflyFerdinand’sthistime。\"[Tempelhof,iii。19—22。]——ContemporarywiththatFIRST

  ErfurtBusiness,therewenton,300milesawayfromit,inthequiteoppositedirection,anotherofthesame;——toocurioustobeomitted。

  ACROSSTHEPOLISHFRONTIER:FEBRUARY,24th—MARCH4th。\"IntheendofFebruary,GeneralWobersnow,anactiveman,wasdetachedfromGlogau,overintoPoland,Posenway,TooverturntheRussianprovisionoperationsthereabouts;inparticular,tolookintoacertainhigh—flyingPolack,aPrinceSulkowskiofthoseparts;

  whowithalldiligenceisgatheringfood,inexpectationoftheRussianadvent;andindeedhasformally’declaredWaragainsttheKingofPrussia;’havingtheright,hesays,asaPolishMagnate,subjectonlytohisownhighthoughtinsuchaffairs。TheRussiansandtheirwarsaredeartoSulkowski。Hefellprisonerintheircause,atZorndorf,lastAutumn;wasstuck,likealltheothers,Soltikoffhimselfamongthem,intothevaultedpartsofCustrinGarrison:’IamsorryIhavenoSiberiaforyou,’saidFriedrich,looking,notinabenignway,onthecaptiveDignitaries,thathotafternoon;’gotoCustrin,andseewhatyouhaveprovidedforyourselves!’Whichtheyhadtodo;nothing,forcertaindays,butcellaragetolodgein;Kinginexorable,deaftoremonstrance。

  WhichpossiblymayhavecontributedtokindleSulkowskiintotheseextremelyhighproceedings。

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