第106章
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  ’What,CuratusSchmidt!’interruptsMyLady,whowassittingthere:

  ’HerrGood—man,whatisthat?’’ThatisaLettertome,’answerstheGood—man:’Whathaveyoutodowithit?’UponwhichMyLadyflouncesoutinahuff,andtheHerrBaronsetsaboutwritinghisAnswer,whateveritmaybe。

  \"KappelandFrauaregonetobed,FraustilleloquentuponthemysteryofCuratusSchmidt,whenhisLordshiptapsattheirdoor;

  entersinthedark:’ThisisfortheCuratus,at7o’clockto—morrow;Ileaveitonthetablehere:beintime,likeagoodKappel!’KappelpromiseshisUnappeasablethathewillactuallyopenthisPiecebeforedeliveryofit;uponwhichsheappeasesherself,andtheybothfallasleep。Kappelisonfootbetimesnextmorning。KappelquietlypocketshisLetter;stillmorequietly,fromaneighboringroom,pocketshisMaster’sbigSeal(PETSCHAFT),withaviewtoresealing:hethenstepsout;givinghisBURSCH

  [ApprenticeorUnder—Groom]ordertobereadyinsomanyminutes,’Youandthesetwohorses’(specificforspeed);and,intheinterim,walksover,withLetterandPETSCHAFT,totheReverendHerrGerlach’s,forsomepreliminarybusiness。KappelisCatholic;

  Warkotsch,Protestant;HerrGerlachisProtestantpreacherintheVillageofSchonbrunn,——muchhatedbyWarkotsch,whosestandingorderis:’Don’tgonearthatinsolentfellow;’butknownbyKappeltobeajustman,faithfulindifficultiesoftheweakagainstthestrong。Gerlach,notyetoutofbed,listenstotheawfulstory:

  readsthehorridmissive;WarkotschtoColonelWallis:’YoucanseizetheKing,livingordead,thisnight!’——hesitatesaboutcopyingit(asKappelwishes,foragoodpurpose];butisencouragedbyhisWife,andsoonwritesaCopy。ThisCopyKappelsticksintotheoldcover,sealsasusual;and,withtheOriginalsafeinhisownpocket,returnstothestablesnow。HisBurschandhemount;afteralittle,heordershisBursch:’Bursch,rideyoutoSiebenhubenandCuratusSchmidt,withthissealedLetter;

  YOU,andsaynothing。Iwastohavegonemyself,butcannot;

  bespeedy,bediscreet!’AndtheBurschdashesoffforSiebenhubenwiththesealedCopy,forSchmidt,Warkotsch,WallisandCompany’sbehoof;Kappelriding,atastillbetterpace,toStrehlenwiththeOriginal,forbehoofoftheKing’sMajesty。

  \"AtStrehlen,King’sMajestynotyetvisible,Kappelhasgreatdifficultiesintheanteroomamongthesentrypeople。Buthepersists,insists:’ReadmyLetter,then!’whichtheydarenotdo;

  whichonlyColonelKrusemark,theAdjutant,perhapsdare。TheytakehimtoKrusemark。Krusemarkreads,allaghast;locksupKappel;

  runstotheKing;returns,mufflesKappelinsoldier’scloakandcap,andleadshimin。TheKing,lookingintoKappel’sface,intoKappel’sclearstoryandtheWarkotschhandwriting,neededonlyafewquestions;andthefitorders,astoWarkotschandCompany,weresoongiven:dangerousengineersnowfallenharmless,blownupbytheirownpetard。OneoftheKing’sfirstquestionswas:

  ’ButhowhaveIoffendedWarkotsch?’Kappeldoesnotknow;

  Masterisofstrictwilfulturn;——Masterwouldgrumbleandgrowlsometimesaboutthepeasantpeople,andhowanoblemanhasnownopoweroverthem,incomparison。’AreyouaProtestant?’’No,yourMajesty,Catholic。’’See,IHRHERREN,’saidtheKingtothoseabouthim;’WarkotschisaProtestant;hisCuratusSchmidtisaCatholic;

  andthismanisaCatholic:therearevillainsandhonestpeopleineverycreed!’

  \"Atnoon,thatday,Warkotschhadsatdowntodinner,comfortablyinhisdressing—gown,nobodybutthegoodBaronessthere;

  whenRittmeisterRabenausuddenlydescendedontheSchlossanddining—roomwithdragoons:’Inarrest,HerrBaron;IamsorryyoumustgowithmetoBrieg!’Warkotsch,astrategicfellow,keptcountenancetoWifeandRittmeister,inthissuddenfallofthethunder—bolt:’Yes,HerrRittmeister;itisthatmassofCornIwastofurnish[showinghimanactualorderofthatkind],andIambehindmytimewithit!Nobodycanhelphisluck。Takeabitofdinnerwithus,anyway!’Rittmeisterrefused;buttheBaronesstoopressedhim;heatlengthsatdown。Warkotschwent’todress;’

  firstofall,togiveordersabouthisbesthorse;butwasshockedtofindthatthedragoonswereahundred,andthateveryoutgatewasbeset。Returninghalf—dressed,withanairofbaffledhospitality:’HerrRittmeister,ourSchlossmustnotbedisgraced;

  hereareyourbravefellowswaiting,andnothingofrefreshmentreadyforthem。IhavegivenorderattheTavernintheVillage;

  sendthemdown;theretheyshalldrinkbetterlucktome,andhaveabitofbreadandcheese。’StupidRabenauagainconsents:——andinfewminutesmore,WarkotschisintheWoods,gallopinglikeEpsom,towardsWallis;andRabenaucanonlyarrestMadam(whoknowsnothing),andreturninabaffledstate。

  \"Schmidttoogotaway。ThepartysentafterSchmidtfoundhiminthelittleTownofNimptsch,half—wayhomeagainfromhisWalliserrand;comfortablydiningwithsomeinnocenthospitablepeoplethere。Schmidtcouldnotconcealhisconfusion;butpleadingpiteouslyanecessityofnature,waswithdifficultyadmittedtothe——totheABTRITTsocalled;andthere,bysomelongpoleorrake—handle,vanishedwhollythroughanever—imaginedaperture,andwasnomoreheardofintheupperworld。ThePrussiansoldierydoesnotseemexpertinthief—taking。

  \"WarkotschcamebackaboutmidnightthatsameTuesday,500WallisHussarsescortinghim;andtookawayhisreadymoneys,near5,000

  poundsingold,reportsFrauKappel,whowitnessedtheghastlyoperation(Hussarsingreatterror,inhaste,andunconscionablygreedyastosharing);——afterwhichournextnewsofhim,thelastofanyclearauthenticity,isthisNotetohispoorWife,whichwasreadintheLawProceduresonhimsixmonthshence:’MyChild(MEIN

  KIND),——TheaccursedthoughtItookupagainstmyKinghasoverwhelmedmeinboundlessmisery。FromthetopofthehighesthillIcannotseethelimitsofit。Farewell;IaminthefarthestborderofTurkey。——WARKOTSCH。’\"[Kuster,Lebens—Rettungen,p。88:Kuster,pp。65—188(forthegeneralNarrative);

  Tempelhof,v。346,&c。&c。]

  Schmidtandhe,afterpatienttrial,werebothofthembeheadedandquartered,——inpasteboardeffigy,——intheSaltRing(GreatSquare)

  ofBreslau,May,1762:——inpasteboard,Friedrichlikeditbetterthantheotherway。\"MEINETWEGEN,\"wrotehe,sanctioningtheexecution,\"ForaughtIcare;thePortraitswilllikelybeasworthlessastheOriginals。\"RittmeisterRabenauhadgotoffwithafewdays’arrest,andtheremark,\"ERISTEINDUMMERTEUFEL(Youareastupiddevil)!\"Warkotsch’sEstates,allandsundry,deductingtheBaroness’sjointure,whichwaspunctuallypaidher,wereconfiscatedtotheKing,——andbyhimweremadeovertotheSchoolsofBreslauandGlogau,which,Idoubtnot,enjoythemtothisday。ReverendGerlachinSchonbrunn,KappelandKappel’sBursch,wereallattendedto,andproperlyrewarded,thoughtherearerumorstothecontrary。Hussar—ColonelWallisgotnopublicpromotion,thoughitisnotdoubtedtheHeadPeoplehadbeenwellcognizantofhisingeniousintentions。OfficialVienna,likemankindingeneral,shudderedtoownhim;thegreatCountsWallisatViennapublishedintheNewspapers,\"OurHousehasnoconnectionwiththatgentleman;\"——and,infact,hewasofIrishbreed,itseems,thenameofhimWallISCH(orWalsh),ifonecared。

  WarkotschdiedatRaab(THISsidethefarthestcornerofTurkey),in1769:hispoorBaronesshadvanishedfromSilesiafiveyearsbefore,probablytojoinhim。HehadsomepensionoralimentfromtheAustrianCourt;smallornotsosmallisadisputedpoint。

  Andthisis,moreminutelythanneedhavebeen,inauthenticformonlytoodiffuse,theonceworld—famousWarkotschTragedyorWellnigh—TragicMelodrama;whichisstillinterestingandamatterofstudy,ofpathosandminutecontroversy,tothepatriotandantiquaryinPrussianCountries,thoughherewemighthavebeenbrieferaboutit。Itwould,indeed,have\"finishedtheWaratonce;\"andontermsdelightfultoAustriaanditsGeneralsnearby。

  ButsowouldanyunitofthemillionballsandbulletswhichhavewhistledroundthatsameRoyalHead,andhave,everyunitofthem,missedlikeWarkotsch!ParticularHeads,royalandother,meantforuseintheschemeofthings,arenottobehitonanytermstilltheuseishad。

  FriedrichsettledinBreslaufortheWinter,December9th。

  FromColbergbadnewsmeethiminBreslau;badandeverworse:

  Colberg,notWarkotsch,istheinterestingmatterthere,forafortnightcoming,——tillColbergend,italsoirremediable。

  TheRussianhopeonColbergis,longsince,limitedtothatoffamine。WesaidtheconveyanceofSupplies,acrosssuchaHundredMilesofwilderness,fromStettinthither,withRussiansandtheWintergainsaying,wasthedifficulty。OurshortNotecontinues:——

  \"Infact,itistheimpossibility:trialaftertrialgoeson,inastrenuousmanner,butwithoutsuccess。October13th,GreenKleisttries;October22d,KnoblochandevenPlatentry。Forthenexttwomonthsthereistrialontrialmade(HussarKleist,Knobloch,Thadden,Platen),notwithoutfuriousfencing,struggling;butwithnosuccess。Thereare,inwaitattheproperplaces,15,000

  Russianswaylaying。Wintercomesearly,andunusuallysevere:

  suchmarchings,suchendeavoringsandendurances,——withoutsuccess!

  Fordarkness,cold,grimdifficulty,fierceresistancetoit,onereadsfewthingslikethisofColberg。’Thesnowliesell—deep,’

  saysArchenholtz;’snow—tempests,sleet,frost:acountrywastedandhungeredout;wantsfuel—wood;hasnotevensalt。Thesoldier’sbreadisablockofice;impracticabletohumanteethtillyouthawit,——whichisonlypossiblebynight。’TheRussianshipsdisappear(17thOctober);November2d,Butturlin,leavingreinforcementswithoutstint,vanishestowardsPoland。ThedaybeforeButturlinwent,therehadbeensolemnsummonsuponEugen,’Surrenderhonorably,weoncemorebidyou;neverwillweleavethisground,tillColbergisours!’’Vaintoproposeit!’answersEugen,asbefore。TheRussianstooareclearlyingreatmiseryofwant;

  thoughwithbetterroadsopenforthem;andRomanzow’sobstinacyisextreme。

  \"NightofNovember14th—15th,Eugen,hishorse—fodderbeingentirelydone,andHeyde’smagazineswornalmostout,isobligedtoglidemysteriously,circuitouslyfromhisCamp,andgototrythetaskhimself。Themostdifficultofmarches,gloriouslyexecuted;

  whichavailstodeliverEugen,andlightensthepressureonHeyde’ssmallstore。Eugen,inawayTempelhofcannotenoughadmire,getsclearaway。JoinswithPlaten,collectsProvision;triestosendProvisionin,butwithouteffect。BytheKing’sorder,istotryithimselfinacollectiveform。HadHeydefood,hewouldcarelittle。

  \"Romanzow,whoisnowinEugen’soldCamp,summonstheVeteran;

  theysay,itis’forthetwenty—fifthtime,’——notyetquitethelast。Heydeconsultshispeople:’KAMERADEN,whatthinkyoushouldIdo?’’THUNSIE’SDURCHAUSNICHT,HERROBRIST,Donotawhitofit,HerrColonel:wewilldefendourselvesaslongaswehavebreadandpowder。’[Seyfarth,iii。28;Archenholtz,ii。304。]Itisgrimfrost;Heydepourswateronhiswalls。Romanzowtriesstorm;

  thewallsareglass;thegarrisonhaspowder,thoughonhalfrationsastobread:stormisofnoeffect。BytheKing’sorder,Eugentriesagain。December6th,starts;hasagainamarchofthemostconsummatekind;December12th,getstotheRussianintrenchment;stormsaRussianredoubt,andfightsinexpressibly;

  hutitwillnotdo。Withdraws;leavesColbergtoitsfate。

  Nextmorning,Heydegetshistwenty—sixthsummons;reflectsonittwodays;andthen(December16th),hisbiscuitdone,decidesto’marchout,withmusicplaying,armsshoulderedandthehonorsofwar。\"’[Tempelhof,v。351—377;Archenholtz,ii。294—307;especiallytheSeyfarthBeylagenabovecited。]AdieutotheoldHero;who,wehope,willnotstaylonginRussianprison。

  \"WhataPlaceofArmsforus!\"thinksRomanzow;——\"though,indeed,forCampaign1762,atthislatetimeofyear,itwillnotsomuchavailus。\"No;——andfor1763,whoknowsifyouwillneeditthen!

  Sixweeksago,PrinceHenriandDaunhadfinishedtheirSaxonCampaigninamuchmoreharmlessmanner。NOVEMBER5th,Daun,afterinfiniterallying,marshalling,rearranging,andcounsellingwithLoudon,whohassatsolongquiescentontheHeightsatKunzendorf,readytoaidandreinforce,didatlength(nothingof\"rashness\"

  chargeableonDaun)make\"ageneralattackonPrinceHenri’soutposts\",intheMeissenorMulda—ElbeCountry,\"fromRossweinallacrosstoSiebeneichen;\"simultaneousattack,15mileswide,orI

  knownothowwide,butdonewithvigor;and,afterastiffstruggleinthesmallway,drovethemallin;——in,allofthem,moreorless;——andthendidnothingfartherwhatever。Henrihadtocontracthisquarters,andstandalertlyonhisguard:butnothingcame。

  \"Shallhavetowinterinstraiterquarters,behindtheMulda,notastrideofitasformerly;thatisall。\"AndsotheCampaigninSaxonyhadended,\"without,inthewholecourseofit\",saytheBooks,\"eitherpartygaininganyessentialadvantageovertheother。\"[Seyfarth,iii。54;Tempelhof,v。275etseq。(ibid。pp。

  263—280fortheCampaignatlarge,inallbreadthofdetail)。]

  ChapterX。

  FRIEDRICHINBRESLAU;HASNEWSFROMPETERSBURG。

  SinceDecember9th,FriedrichisinBreslau,insomeremainderofhisruinedPalacethere;andisrepresentedtous,inBooks,assittingamidruins;noprospectaheadofhimbutruin。

  WithdrawnfromSociety;lookingfixedlyonthegloomiestfuture。

  Seeshardlyanybody;speaks,exceptitbeonbusiness,nothing。

  \"Oneday,\"Ihavereadsomewhere,\"GeneralLentulusdinedwithhim;

  andtherewasnotawordutteredatall。\"TheAnecdote—BookshaveDialogueswithZiethen;ZiethenstilltrustinginDivineProvidence;KingtrustingonlyintheironDestinies,andthesternrefugeofDeathwithhonor:Dialoguesevidentlysymbolicalonly。

  Infact,thisisnot,orisnotaltogether,theKing’scommonhumor。HehashistwoNephewswithhim(theelder,oldenoughtolearnsoldiering,istobeofnextCampaignunderhim);heisnotwithoutsocietywhenhelikes,——neverwithoutemploymentwhetherhelikeornot;and,intheblackestmurkofdespondencies,hashisTurkandotherIllusions,whichseemtobebrighterthisYearthanever。[LETTERStoHenri:inSCHONING,iii。(SOEPIUS)。]

  Forcertain,theKingismakingallpreparation,asifvictorymightstillcrownhim:thoughofpracticalhopehe,doubtlessoftenenough,haslittleornone。Englandseemsaboutdesertinghim;

  amostsadandunexpectedchangehasbefallenthere:greatPittthrownout;perversesmallButescomein,whosenotionsandproceduresdifferfarfromPitt’s!Athomehere,theRussiansareinPommernandtheNeumark;AustrianshaveSaxony,allbutapoorstripbeyondtheMulda;Silesia,allbutafractionontheOder:

  Friedrichhaswithhimself30,000;withPrinceHenri,25,000;

  underEugenofWurtemberg,againsttheSwedes,5,000;inallhisDominions,60,000fightingmen。Tomakeheadagainstsomanyenemies,hecalculatesthat60,000moremustberaisedthisWinter。

  Andwherearethesetocomefrom;Englandanditshelphavingalsofallenintosuchdubiety?NextYear,itiscalculatedbyeverybody,Friedrichhimselfhardlyexcepted(inbadmoments),mustbethefinisofthislongagonistictragedy。Ontheotherhand,Austriaherselfisinsoredifficultiesastocash;discharges20,000men,——trustingshemayhaveenoughbesidestofinishFriedrich。

  Franceisbankrupt,starving,passionateforPeace;EnglishButenothinglikesoilltotreatwithasPitt:toAustrianomoresubsidiesfromFrance。TheWariswaxingfeeble,notonFriedrich’ssideonly,likeaflameshortoffuel。ThisYearitmustgoout;

  AustriawillhavetokillFriedrichthisYear,ifatall。

  WhetherAustria’sandtheworld’sprophecywouldhavebeenfulfilled?Nobodycansaywhatmiraculoussuddenshifts,andoutburstsoffieryenterprise,maystilllieinthisman。

  Friedrichisdifficulttokill,growsterriblyelasticwhenyoucompresshimintoacorner。OrDestiny,perhaps,mayhavetriedhimsufficiently;andbesatisfied?Destinydoessendhimawonderfulstar—of—day,burstingoutonthesudden,aswillbeseen!——

  MeanwhilehereistheEnglishcalamity;worsethananySchweidnitz,Colbergorotherthathasbefalleninthisblackest,ofthenight。

  THEPITTCATASTROPHE:HOWTHEPEACE—NEGOTIATIONWENTOFFBYEXPLOSION;

  HOWPITTWITHDREW(3dOctober,1761),ANDTHERECAMEASPANISHWARNEVERTHELESS。

  InSt。James’sStreet,\"intheDukeofCumberland’slatelodgings,\"

  onthe2dofOctober,1761,therewasheldoneofthemostremarkableCabinet—CouncilsknowninEnglishHistory:itisthelastofPitt’sCabinet—Councilsforalongtime,——mightaswellhavebeenhislastofall;——andisofthehighestimportancetoFriedrichthroughPitt。WespokeoftheChoiseulPeace—Negotiation;

  ofanofferindirectlyfromKingCarlos,\"CouldnotImediatealittle?\"——offerwhichexplodedsaidNegotiation,andproducedtheBourbonFamilyCompactandanadditionalWarinstead。Letusnowlook,slightlyforafewmoments,intothatmatteranditssequences。

  ItwasJULY15th,whenBussy,alongwithsomethinginhisownFrenchsphere,presentedthisbeautifulSpanishAppendix,——

  \"apprehensivethatWarmaybreakoutagainwithSpain,whenweTwohavegotsettled。\"BythesameopportunitycameaNotefromhim,whichwasreckonedimportanttoo:\"ThattheEmpressQueenwouldanddid,whatevermightbecomeoftheCongressofAugsburg,approveofthisSeparatePeacebetweenFranceandEngland,——EnglandmerelyundertakingtoleavetheKingofPrussiaaltogethertohimselfinfuturewithherImperialMajestyandherAllies。\"\"Never,Sir!\"

  answeredPitt,withemphasis,tothislatterProposition;andtotheformeraboutSpain’sinterfering,orwhisperingofinterference,heanswered——byatoncereturningthePaper,asathingnon—extant,orwhichitwascharitabletoconsiderso。

  \"Totallyinadmissible,Sir;mentionitnomore!\"——andatoncecalledupontheSpanishAmbassadortodisavowsuchimpertineuceimputedtohisMaster。Fancythecolloquies,theagitatedconsultationsthereupon,betweenBussyandthisDon,inviewsuddenlyofbreakersahead!

  Inaboutaweek(July23d),BussyhadanInterviewwithPitthimselfonthishighSpanishmatter;andgotsomeutterancesoutofhimwhicharememorabletoBussyandus。\"Itismydutytodeclaretoyou,Sir,inthenameofhisMajesty,\"saidPitt,\"thathisMajestywillnotsufferthedisputeswithSpaintobeblended,inanymannerwhatever,intheNegotiationofPeacebetweentheTwoCrowns。TowhichImustadd,thatitwillbeconsideredasanaffronttohisMajesty’sdignity,andasathingincompatiblewiththesincerityoftheNegotiation,tomakefarthermentionofsuchacircumstance。\"[InTHACKERAY,ii。554;——Pittnextdayputtingitinwriting,\"wordforword,\"atBussy’srequest。]Bussydidnotgoatonce,afterthisdeliverance;butwasunable,byhisargumentsandpleadings,byallhisoilandfirejoinedtogether,toproducetheleastimprovementonit:\"Timeenoughtotreatofallthat,Sir,whentheTowerofLondonistakenswordinhand!\"[Beatson,ii。

  434。Archenholtz(ii。245)hasheardofthisexpression,inaslightlyincorrectway。]wasPitt’slastword。Anexpressionwhichwentovertheworld;andwentespeciallytoKingCarlos,asfastasitcouldfly,orashisChoiseulcouldspeedit:and,inaboutthreeweeks:produced——itandwhathadgonebeforeit,bytheunitedindustryofChoiseulandCarlos,finallyproduced——thefamedBOURBONFAMILYCOMPACT(August15th,1761),andavarietyofotherweightyresults,whichlayinembryotherein。

  Pitt,intheinterim,hadbeenintenselyprosecuting,inSpainandeverywhere,hisinquiryintotheBussyphenomenonofJuly15th;

  whichhe,fromthefirstglimpseofit,tooktomeanamysteryoftreacheryinthepretendedPeace—Negotiation,onthepartofChoiseulandCatholicMajesty;——thoughotherlongheads,andPitt’sAmbassadoratMadridinvestigatingonthespot,considereditaninadvertencemainly,andofnopracticalmeaning。OngettingknowledgeoftheBourbonFamilyCompact,Pittperceivedthathissuspicionwasacertainty;——andlikewisethattheoneclearcoursewas,TodeclareWarontheSpanishBourbontoo,andgointohimatonce:\"Weareready;fleets,soldiers,intheEast,intheWest;

  henotreadyanywhere。SincehewantsWar,lethimhaveit,withoutlossofamoment!\"ThatisPitt’sclearviewofthecase;butitisbynomeansButeandCompany’s,——whodiscerninit,rather,ameansoffinishinganotheroperationtheyhavelongbeensecretlybusyupon,bytheirMauduitsandotherwise;andareclearagainstgettingintoanewWarwithSpainoranybody:\"HavenotweenoughofWars?\"saythey。

  SinceSeptember18th,therehadbeenthreeCabinet—CouncilsheldonthisgreatSpanishquestion:\"Mysteryoftreachery,meaningWarfromSpain?OrawkwardInadvertenceonly,practicallymeaninglittleornothing?\"Pitt,surerofhiscourseeverytime,everytimemeetsthesamecontradiction。CouncilofOctober2dwasthethirdoftheseries,andprovedtobethelast。

  \"TwelveSeventy—fourssentinstantlytoCadiz\",hadbeenPitt’sproposal,onthefirstemergenceoftheBussyphenomenon。Herearehiswords,October2d,whenitisabouttogetconsummated:

  \"ThisisnowthetimeforhumblingthewholeHouseofBourbon:

  andifthisopportunityisletslip,weshallneverfindanother!

  Theirunitedpower,ifsufferedtogatherstrength,willbaffleourmostvigorousefforts,andpossiblyplungeusinthegulfofruin。

  Wemustnotallowthemamomenttobreathe。Self—preservationbidsuscrushthembeforetheycancombineorrecollectthemselves。\"——

  \"NoevidencethatSpainmeanswar;toomanywarsonourhands;

  letusatleastwait!\"urgealltheothers,——allbutone,oroneandAHALF,ofwhompresently。WhereuponPitt:\"Iftheseviewsaretobefollowed,thisisthelasttimeIcansitatthisBoard。

  IwascalledtotheAdministrationofAffairsbythevoiceofthePeople:tothemIhavealwaysconsideredmyselfasaccountableformyconduct;andthereforecannotremaininasituationwhichmakesmeresponsibleformeasuresIamnolongerallowedtoguide。\"

  [Beatson,ii。438。]

  CarteretGranville,PresidentofsaidCouncilfortenyearspast,[Camein\"17thJune,1751\",——died\"2dJanuary,1763。\"]nowanoldred—nosedmanofseventy—two,snappishlytookhimup,——itisthelastpublicthingpoorCarteretdidinthisworld,——inthefollowingterms:\"IfindtheGentlemanisdeterminedtoleaveus;

  norcanIsayIamsorryforit,sinceotherwisehewouldhavecertainlycompelledustoleavehim[Hasruledus,maynotIsay,witharodofiron!]ButifheberesolvedtoassumetheofficeofexclusivelyadvisinghisMajestyanddirectingtheoperationsoftheWar,towhatpurposearewecalledtothisCouncil?WhenhetalksofbeingresponsibletothePeople,hetalksthelanguageoftheHouseofCommons;forgetsthat,atthisBoard,heisonlyresponsibletotheKing。However,thoughhemaypossiblyhaveconvincedhimselfofhisinfallibility,stillitremainsthatweshouldbeequallyconvinced,beforewecanresignourunderstandingstohisdirection,orjoinwithhiminthemeasureheproposes。\"[BIOG。BRITANNICA(Kippis’s;London,1784),iii。278。

  SeeThackeray,i。589—592。]

  Who,besidesTemple(Pitt’sBrother—in—law)confirmatoryofPitt,Butenegatory,andNewcastleSILENT,theotherbeautifulgentlemenwere,Iwillnotask;butpooroldCarteret,——thewineperhapssouronhisstomach(oldagetoo,withGermanmemoriesofhisown,\"AbiggishLifeoncemine,allfutileforwantofthissameKingshiplikePitt’s!\")——IamsorryoldCarteretshouldhaveendedso!HemadetheaboveAnswer;andPittresignednextday。

  [Thackeray,i。592n。\"October5th\"(ACCEPTANCEoftheresignation,Isuppose?)isthedatecommonlygiven。]\"TheNationwasthunderstruck,alarmedandindignant,\"saysWalpole:[

  MemoirsoftheReignofGeorgetheThird,i。82etseq。]yes,nowonder;——but,exceptagreatdealofnoisyjargoninginParliamentandoutofit,theNationgainednothingforitselfbyitsindignant,thunderstrickenandotherfeelings。ItsPittisirrecoverable;anditmaylonglookforanothersuch。

  ThesebeautifulrecalcitrantsoftheCabinet—Councilhad,themselves,withinthreemonths(thinkunderwhatnoisesandhootingsfromanon—admiringNation),todeclareWaronSpain,[\"2dJanuary,1762,\"theEnglish;\"18thJanuary,\"theSpaniard(ANNUALREGISTERfor1762,p。50;orbetter,Beatson,ii。443)。]

  NOTonbettertermsthanwhenPittadvised;and,exceptforthe\"readiness\"inwhichPitthadleftallthings,mighthavefaredindifferentlyinit。

  ToSpainandFrancetheresultsoftheFamilyCompact(wemayaswellgivethematonce,thoughtheyextendoverthewholenextyearandfarther,andconcernFriedrichverylittle)were:aWaronEngland(chieflyonpoorPortugalforEngland’ssake);withaWarBYEnglandinreturn,whichcostSpainitsHavanaanditsPhilippineIslands。

  \"From1760andbefore,theSpanishCarlos,hisorthodoxmindperhapsshockedatPombalandtheAnti—Jesuitprocedures,hadforbiddentradewithPortugal;hadbeendrawingoutdangerous’militiaforcesontheFrontier;’andafflictingandfrighteningthepoorCountry。ButontheactualarrivalofWarwithEngland,Choiseulandhe,asthefirstfeasibilitydiscernible,makeDemand(threetimesover,16thMarch—18thApril,1762,eachtimemorestringently)onpoorPortugueseMajesty:’GiveupyourobjectionableHereticAlly,andjoinwithusagainsthim;willyou,orwillyounot?’TowhichthePortugueseMajesty,whoseverytitleisMostFaithful,answeredalways:’Yousurpriseme!Icannot;

  howcanI?HeismyAlly,andhasalwayskeptfaithwithme!

  Forcertain,No!’[LondonGazette,5thMay,1762,&c。(inGentleman’sMagazinefor1762,xxxii。205,321,411)。]SothatthereisEnglishreinforcementgotready,men,money;anEnglishGeneral,LordTyrawley,GeneralandAmbassador;witha5or6,000horseandfoot,andmanyvolunteerofficersbesides,forthePortuguesebehoof。[ListofallthisinBeatson,ii。491,iii。323;——\"didnotgettoseatill12thMay,1762\"(Gentleman’sMagazinefor1762,p。239)。]Inshort,everyencouragementtopoorPortugal:

  ’Pull,andwewillhelpyoubytracing。’

  \"ThepoorPortuguesepulledverybadly:weredisgustingtoTyrawley,hetothem;andcriedpassionately,’GetusanotherGeneral;’——uponwhich,bysomewiseperson’scounsel,thatsingularArtilleryGentleman,theGrafvonderLippeBuckeburg,whogavethedinnerinhisTentwithcannonfiringatthepoleofit,wasappointed;andTyrawleycamehomeinahuff。[VarnhagenvanEnse,GRAFWILHELMZURLIPPE(Berlin,1845),inVermischteSchriften,i。1—118:pp。33—54,hisPortugueseoperations。]Whichwasprobablyafavorablecircumstance。

  BuckeburgunderstandsWar,whetherTyrawleydoornot。

  DukeFerdinandhasagreedtodispensewithhisOrdnance—Master;

  nayIhaveheardtheOrdnance—Master,amanofsharpspeeohonoccasion,wasasgoodasidle;andhadgonehometoBuckeburg,thisWinter:indignantatthemanyimperfectionshesaw,andperhapstoofranklyexpressingthatfeelingnowandthen。WhathethoughtofthePortugueseArmyincomparisonisnotonrecord;but,maybejudgedofbythiscircumstance,ThatondiningwiththechiefPortuguesemilitaryman,hefoundhisPortuguesecaptainsandlieutenantswaitingasvaletsbehindthechairs。[VARNHAGEN(givesnodateanywhere)。]

  \"Theimprovementshemadearesaidtohavebeenmany;——andPortugueseMajesty,inbiddingfarewell,gavehimaparkofMiniatureGoldCannonbywayofgracioussymbol。But,sofarasthefactsshow,heseemstohavegotfromhisPortugueseArmynexttonoservicewhatever:and,butfortheEnglishandtheillweather,wouldhavefaredbadlyagainsthisFrenchandSpaniards,——42,000ofthem,advancinginThreeDivisions,bytheDouroandtheTagus,againstOportoandLisbon。

  \"HisWarhasonlythesethreedatesofevent。1。May9th,ThenorthmostoftheThreeDivisions[ANNUALREGISTERfor1762,p。30。]

  crossesthePortugueseFrontierontheDouro;summonsMiranda,achiefTownoftheirs;takesit,beforetheirfirstbatteryisbuilt;takesBraganza,takesMonteCorvo;andwithinaweekismasteroftheDouro,inthatpart,’WillbeatOportodirectly!’

  shriekalltheWinepeople(noresistanceanywhere,exceptbypeasantsorganizedbyEnglishOfficersinsomeparts);uponwhichSeventy—foursweresent。

  \"2。DivisionSecondofthe42,000camebyBeiraCountry,betweenTagusandDouro,byTras—os—Montes;andlaidsiegetoaplacecalledAlmeida[northwestsome20oddmilesfromCUIDADRODRIGO,anameonceknowntoveteransofusstillliving],whichBuckeburghadtriedtorepairintostrength,andfurnishwithagarrison。

  Garrisondefendeditselfwell;butcouldnotberelieved;——hadtosurrender,August25th:wherebyitseemstheTagusisnowtheirs!

  Allthemore,asDivisionThreeislikewisegotacrossfromEstremadura,invadingAlemtejo:whatistokeeptheseTwofromfallingonLisbontogether?

  \"3。Againstthis,Buckeburgdoesfindarecipe。DespatchesBrigadierBurgoynewithanEnglishpartyuponaTowncalledValenciad’Alcantara[notAlcantaraProper,butValenciaofditto,notveryfarfromBadajoz],wherethevanguardofthisThirdDivisionis,andtheirprincipalMagazine。BurgoyneandhisEnglishdidperfectly:brokeintotheplace,stormeditswordinhand(August27th);kepttheMagazineandit,though’thesixteenPortugueseBattalions’couldnotpossiblygetupintime。Inmannerfollowing(saytheOldNewspapers):——

  \"’ThegarrisonofAlmeida,beforewhichplacethewholeSpanishArmyhadbeenassembled,surrenderedtotheSpaniardsonthe25th[August25th,aswehavejustheard],havingcapitulatedonconditionofnotservingagainstSpainforsixmonths。

  \"’Asacounterbalancetothisadvantage,theCountdeLippecausedValenciad’Alcantaratobeattacked,swordinhand,bytheBritishtroops;whocarriedit,afteranobstinateresistance。ThelossoftheBritishtroops,whohadtheprincipalshareinthisaffair,isluckilybutinconsiderable:andconsistsinLieutenantBurkofColonelFrederick’s,onesergeantandthreeprivateskilled;

  twosergeants,onedrummer,18privateswounded;10horseskilledand2wounded[lossnotatallconsiderable,inaWarofsuchdimensions!]。TheBritishtroopsbehaveduponthisoccasionwithasmuchgenerosityascourage;anditdeservesadmiration,that,inanaffairofthiskind,thetownandtheinhabitantssufferedverylittle;whichisowingtothegoodorderBrigadierBurgoynekeptupevenintheheatoftheaction。Thissuccesswouldprobablyhavebeenattendedwithmore,ifcircumstances,thatcouldnotwellbeexpected,hadnotretardedthemarchofsixteenPortuguesebattalions,andthreeregimentsofcavalry。’[OldNewspapers(inGentleman’sMagazinefor1762,p,443)。]

  \"Uponwhich——uponwhich,infact,theWarhadtoend。Rainyweathercame,delugesofrain;Burgoyne,withorwithoutthesixteenbattalionsofPortuguese,keptthegriphehad。Valenciad’AlcantaraanditsMagazineasettledbusiness,roadsroundgonealltomire,——thisThirdDivision,andwithitthe42,000ingeneral,findingtheyhadnothingtoliveupon,wenttheirwaysagain。\"NOTE,TheBurgoyne,whobeginsinthisprettywayatValenciad’Alcantara,isthesamewhoendedsodismallyatSaratoga,withintwentyyears:——perhaps,withotherWar—Offices,andtraininghimselfinsomethingsuitablerthanParliamentaryEloquence,hemighthavebecomeakindofGeneral,andhaveendedfarotherwisethanthere?——

  \"SuchwasthecreditaccountonCarlos’sside:BygratuitousassaultonPortugal,whichhaddonehimnooffence;resultzero,andpayyourexpenses。OntheEnglish,orPERCONTRAside,again,therewerethesethreeitems,twoofthemspecificallyonCarlos:

  FIRST,MartiniquecapturedfromtheFrenchthisSpring(finished4thFebruary,1762):[Gentleman’sMagazine

  for1762,p。127。]——wastohavebeendoneinanycase,GuadaloupeanditbeingbothonPitt’sbooksforsometime,andonlyGuadaloupeyetgot。SECONDLY,KingCarlos,forFamilyCompactandfruitlessattemptatburglaryonanunoffendingneighbor,Debtor:

  1。ToLossoftheHavana(6thJune—13thAugust,1762),[Ib。pp。

  408—459,&c。]whichmighteasilyhaveissuedinlossofallhisWestIndiestogether,andtotalabolitionofthePope’smeridianinthatWesternHemisphere;and2。ToLossofManilla,withhisPhilippineIslands(23dSeptember—6thOctober,1762),[Gentleman’sMagazinefor1762,xxxiii。

  171—177。]whichwasabolitionofitintheEastern。Afterwhich,happilyforCarlos,Peacecame,——Peace,andnoPitttobesevereuponhisIndiesandhim。Carlos’sWaroftenmonthshadstoodhimuncommonlyhigh。\"

  AllthesethingstheEnglishPublic,considerablysullenabouttheCabinet—CouncileventofOctober3d,ascribedtotherealownerofthem。ThePublicsaid:\"Theseare,allofthem,Pitt’sbolts,notyours,——launched,orlyingreadyforlaunching,fromthatOlympianbatterywhich,intheEastandintheWest,hadalreadysmittendownallLallysandMontcalms;andhadforcealreadymassedthere,renderingyourHavanasandManillaseasyforyou。Forwhich,indeed,youdonotseemtocaremuch;ratherseemtobeembarrassedwiththem,inyoureagernessforPeaceandalazylife!\"——Manillawasabeautifulwork;[AJOURNALOFTHEPROCEEDINGSQFHIS

  MAJESTY’SFORCESINTHEEXPEDITIONTOMANILLA(LondonGazette,April19th,1763;Gentleman’sMagazine,xxxiii。171etseq。)。WrittenbyColonelorBrigadiecGeneralDraper(suggester,contriverandperformeroftheEnterprise;anexcellentIndianOfficer,ofgreatmeritwithhispenaswell,——BullyJUNIUS’SCorrespondentafterwards)。]buttheManillaRansom;amillionsterling,halfofitinbills,——whichtheSpaniards,onnopretextatallbutthedisagreeableness,refusedtopay!Havana,thoughvictorious,costagoodmanymen:

  wasthoughttobebutbadlymanaged。\"Whattodowithit?\"saidBute,atthePeace:\"GiveusFloridainlieuofit\",——whichprovedoflittlebenefittoBute。Enough,enoughofButeandhisperformances。

  Pittbeinggone,Friedrich’sEnglishSubsidylags:thistimeFriedrichconcludesitiscutoff;——silentonthesubject;nowordswillexpressone’sthoughtsonit。NottillApril9thhaspoorMitchellthesaderrandofannouncingformallyThatsuchareourpressures,PortugueseWarandother,wecannotafforditfarther。

  AnsweredbyIknownotwhatkindofglancefromFriedrich;

  answered,Ifind,bywordsfewornonefromtheforsakenKing:

  \"Good;thattoowaswanting,\"thoughttheproudsoul:\"Keepyourcoin,sinceyousoneedit;Ihavestillcopper,andmysword!\"

  ThealloythisYearbecameas3to1:——whatotherremedy?

  Fromthesamecause,Idoubtnot,thisYear,forthefirsttimeinhumanmemory,camethatcompleteabeyanceoftheGift—moneys(DOUCEUR—GELDER),whicharebecomeastandingexpectation,quasi—

  right,andnecessaryitemofsupporttoeveryPrussianOfficer,fromaLieutenantupwards:notaword,intheleastofficial,saidofthemthisYear;stilllessapennyofthemactuallyforthcomingtoawornoutexpectantArmy。OneofthegreatestsinschargeduponFriedrichbyPrussianorPrussian—Militarypublicopinion:nottobeexcusedatall;——Prussian—MilitaryandevenPrussian—CivilopinionhavingastrangepersuasionthatthisKinghasboundlesssupplyofmoney,andonlyoutofperversityrefusesitforobjectsofmoment。IntheArmyaselsewheremuchha8goneawry;

  [SeeMollendorf’stwoorthreeLETTERS(Preuss,iv。407—411)。]manyrivetslooseaftersuchaclimbingoftheAlpsastherehasbeen,throughdenseandrare。

  ItwillsurpriseeverybodythatFriedrich,withhiscopperandotherresources,actuallyraisedhisadditional60,000;andhasforhimself70,000torecoverSchweidnitz,andbringSilesiatoitsoldstate;40,000forPrinceHenriandSaxony,witha10,000ofmarginforSwedenandaccidentalsundries。Thisisstrange,butitistrue。[Stenzel,v。297,286;Tempelhof,vi。2,10,63。]Andhasnotbeendonewithoutstrivingsandcontrivings,hardrequisitionsontheplacesliable;andhasinvolvednotalittleofseverityanddifficulty,——especiallyagreatdealofhagglingwiththecollectingparties,oratleastwithPrinceHenri,whopresidesinSaxony,andisapttocomplainandmournovertheundoable,ratherthanproceedtodoit。TheKing’sCorrespondencewithHenri,thisWinter,iscuriousenough;likeaDialoguebetweenHopeonitsfeet,andDespairtakingtoitsbed。\"YouknowthereareTwoDoctorsinMOLIERE,\"saysFriedrichtohimonce;\"aDoctorTANT—MIEUX(SomuchtheBetter)andaDoctorTANT—PIS(SomuchtheWorse):thesetwocannotbeexpectedtoagree!\"——Insteadofinfinitearithmeticaldetails,hereispartofaLetterofFriedrich’stoD’Argens;andaPassage,oneofmany,withPrinceHenri;——whichcommandaviewintotheinteriorthatconcernsus。

  THEKINGTOD’ARGENS(atBerlin)。

  \"BRESLAU,18thJanuary,1762……\"Youhaveliftedthepoliticalveilwhichcoveredhorrorsandperfidiesmeditatedandreadytoburstout[Bute’sdismalprocedures,Ibelieve;whoisravenousforPeace,andwouldfainforceFriedrichalongwithhimontermsaltogetherdisgracefulandinadmissible[SeeD’Argens’sLetter(towhichthisisAnswer),OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。281,282。]]:youjudgecorrectlyofthewholesituationIamin,oftheabysseswhichsurroundme;and,asIseebywhatyousay,ofthekindofhopethatstillremainstome。ItwillnotbetillthemonthofFebruary[Turks,probably,andTartarKhan;greatthingscomingthen!]thatwecanspeakofthat;andthatisthetermI

  contemplatefordecidingwhetherIshallholdtoCATO[Cato,——andthelittleGlassTubeIhave!]ortoCAESAR’SCOMMENTARIES,\"andthebestfightonecanmake。

  \"TheSchoolofpatienceIamatishard,long—continued,cruel,naybarbarous。Ihavenotbeenabletoescapemylot:allthathumanforesightcouldsuggesthasbeenemployed,andnothinghassucceeded。IfFortunecontinuestopursueme,doubtlessIshallsink;itisonlyshethatcanextricatemefromthesituationIamin。IescapeoutofitbylookingattheUniverseonthegreatscale,likeanobserverfromsomedistantPlanet;allthenseemstomesoinfinitelysmall,andIcouldalmostpitymyenemiesforgivingthemselvessuchtroubleaboutsoverylittle。Whatwouldbecomeofuswithoutphilosophy,withoutthisreasonablecontemptofthingsfrivolous,transientandfugitive,aboutwhichthegreedyandambitiousmakesuchapother,fancyingthemtobesolid!

  Thisistobecomewisebystripes,youwilltellme;well,ifonedobecomewise,whatmattersithow?——Ireadagreatdeal;IdevourmyBooks,andthatbringsmeusefulalleviation。ButformyBooks,Ithinkhypochondriawouldhavehadmeinbedlambeforenow。

  Infine,dearMarquis,weliveintroubloustimesandindesperatesituations:——IhaveallthepropertiesofaStage—Hero;alwaysindanger,alwaysonthepointofperishing。Onemusthopetheconclusionwillcome;andiftheendofthepiecebelucky,wewillforgettherest。Patiencethen,MONCHER,tillFebruary20th[Bywhichtime,whatfarotherveritablestar—of—daywillhaverisenonme!]。ADIEU,MONCHER。——F。\"[OEuvresdeFrederic,xix。282,283。]

  TIFFOFQUARRELBETWEENKINGANDHENRI(March—April,1762)。

  IntheSpringmonthsPrinceHenriisatHofinVoigtland,ontheextremerightofhislonglineof\"QuartersbehindtheMulda;\"

  busyenough,watchingtheAustriansandReich;levyingtheseverecontributions;speedingallhecanthemanifoldpreparatives;——

  conscioustohimselfofthegreatestvigilanceanddiligence,butwraptindespondencyandblackacidulenthumors;a\"DoctorSOMUCH

  THEWORSE,\"whoisnotacomfortingCorrespondent。FromHof,towardsthemiddleofMarch,hebecomesspeciallygloomyandacidulous;sendsaseriesofComplaints;alsoofNews,notimportant,butallratherinYOURfavor,mydearestBrother,thaninmine,ifyouwillpleasetoobserve!Asthus:——

  HENRI(atHof,10th—13thMarch)……\"Sadlyoffhere,mydearestBrother。!Ofour’1,284headofcommissariathorses,’only180arecomein;ofour’287drivers,’notone。WillbeimpossibletoopenCampaignatthatrate。\"——\"GrenadierBattalionsROTHENBURGandGRANT

  demandtohavepickedmentocompletethem[ofCANTONIST,orsurePrussiansort]……Ifind[NOTABENE,Reader!]thereareeightAustrianregimentsgoingtoSilesia[offmyhands,anduponYOURS,inasense],eightinsteadoffourthatIspokeof:intending,probably,forGlatz,toreplaceCzernichef[aCzernichefoffforhomelately,inamostmiraculousway;asreadersshallhear!]——toreplaceCzernichef,andtheblankhehasleftthere?Eightofthem:

  YourMajestycanhavenodifficulty;butIwilldetachPlatenorsomebody,ifyouorderit;thoughIammyselfperilouslyilloffhere,soscatteredintoparts,notcapableofspeedyjunctionlikeyourMajesty。\"

  FRIEDRICH(14th—16thMarch)。\"Commissariathorses,drivers?

  Iarrangedandprovidedwhereeverythingwastobegot。Butifmyordersarenotexecuted,northerequisitionsbroughtin,ofcoursethereisfailure。IamdespatchingAdjutantvonAnhalttoSaxonyasecondtime,toenforcematters。IfIcouldbeforthreeweeksinSaxony,myself,IbelieveIcouldputallonitsrightfooting;

  but,asImustnotstirtwostepsfromhere,IwillsendyouAnhalt,withorderstotheGenerals,tocompelthemtotheirduty。\"

  [Schoning,iii。301,302。]\"AstoGrenadierBattalionsGRANTandROTHENBURG,itisabsurd。\"(Henrifallssilentforaboutaweek,broodinghisgloom;——notawarethatstillworseiscoming。)

  Kingcontinues:——

  KING(22dMarch)。\"Eightregiments,yousaid?Here,byenclosedList,areseventeenofthem,namesandparticularsallgiven\",whichisratheradifferentviewoftheaccountagainstSilesia!

  Seventeenofthem,going,notforGlatz,Ishouldsay,buttostrengthenourEnemieshereabouts。

  HENRI。\"Hm,hah[answersonlyinGerman;drymilitaryreports,officialmerely;——thinksofwritingtoChief—ClerkEichel,whoisfactotuminthesespheres]……Artilleryrecruitsarescarceintheextreme;demandbounty:fivethalers,shallwesay?\"

  KING。\"Seventeenregimentsofthem,beyondquestion,insteadofeight,comingonus:strangethatyoudidn’twarnmebetter。

  IhavethereforeorderedyourMajor—GeneralSchmettauhitherwardatonce。AshehasnotdoneraisingthecontributionsintheLausitz,youmustsendanothertodoit,andhavethemreadywhenGeneralPlatenpassesthatwayhither。\"——\"’Fivethalersbountyforartillerymen\"sayyou?Itisnottobethoughtof。Artillerymencanbehadbyconscriptionwhereyouare。\"Henri(insilence,stillmoreindignant)sendsmilitaryreportsexclusively。March26th,Henri’sgloomreachestheignitingpoint;hewritestoChief—

  ClerkEichel:——

  \"Monsieur,youareawarethatAdjutantvonAnhaltisonthewayhither。Tojudgebyhisorders,iftheycorrespondtotheLettersI

  havehadfromtheKing,AdjutantvonAnhalt’sappearanceherewillproduceanembarrassment,fromwhichIamresolvedtoextricatemyselfbyavoluntaryretirementfromoffice。Mytotallyruined(ABIMEE)health,thevexationsIhavehad,thefatiguesandtroublesofwar,leaveinmelittleregrettoquittheemployment。

  Isolicitonly,fromyourattentionsandskillofmanagement,thatmyretreatbepermittedtotakeplacewiththedecencyobservedtowardsthosewhohaveservedtheState。Ihavenotahighopinionofmyservices;butperhapsIamnotmistakeninsupposingthatitwouldbemoreashametotheKingthantomeifheshouldmakemeendureallmannerofchagrinsduringmyretirement。\"[Schoning,iii。307。]

  Eichelsinksintoprofoundreflection;saysnothing。Howisthisfiretobegotunder?Whereistheplacetotrampleonit,beforeopeningdoororwindow,orsayingawordtotheKingoranybody?

  HENRI(sameday,26thMarch)。\"MydearestBrother,——IntheListyousendmeofthoseseventeenAustrianregiments,several,Iaminformed,arestillinSaxony;andbyallthenewsthatIget,thereareonlyeightgonetowardsSilesia。\"——\"FromLeipzigmyaccountsare,theReichsArmyistomakeamovementinadvance,andPrinceXavierwiththeSaxonswasexpectedatNaumburgthe20thult。IknownotifyouhavearrangedwithDukeFerdinandforaproportionatesuccor,incasehisFrenchalsoshouldtrytopenetrateintoSaxonyuponme?Iam,withtheprofoundestattachment,yourfaithfulanddevotedservantandBrother。\"

  KING(30thMarch)。\"Seventeenofthem,youmaydepend;Iamtoowellinformedtobeallowedtodoubtinanyway。WhatyoureportoftheReichsfolkandSaxonsmovinghither,thither;thatseemstomeabitofgameontheirpart。Theywilltrytocutonepostfromyou,thenanother,unlessyouassembleacorpsandgoinuponthem。

  Tillyoudecideforthisresolution,youhavenothingbutchicanesandprovocationstoexpectthere。AstoDukeFerdinandofBrunswick,Idon’timaginethathisOrders[fromEngland]wouldpermithimwhatyoupropose[forreliefofyourself]:atanyrate,youwillhavetowriteatleastthricetohim,——thatistosay,wastethreeweeks,beforehewillanswerNoorYes。Youyourselfareinforceenoughforthosefellows:butsolongasyoukeeponthedefensivealone,theenemygainstime,andthingswillalwaysgoabadroad。\"Henri’spatienceisalreadyout;thissamedayheiswritingtotheKing。

  HENRI(30thMarch)……\"YouhavehithertoreceivedproofsenoughofmywaysofthinkingandactingtoknowthatifinrealityIwasmistakenaboutthoseeightregiments,itcanonlyhavebeenapieceofignoranceonthepartofmyspy:meanwhileyouarepleasedtomakemeresponsibleforwhatmisfortunemaycomeofit。IthinkI

  havemyhandsfullwiththetasklaidonmeofguarding4,000

  squaremilesofcountrywithfewertroopsthanyouhave,andofbeingoppositeanenemywhosepoststouchuponours,andwhoissuperiorinforce。YourprecedingLetters[fromMarch16thhitherto],onwhichIhavewishedtobesilent,andthislastproofofwantofaffection,showmetooclearlytowhatfortuneIhavesacrificedtheseSixYearsofCampaigning。\"

  KING(3dApril:OfficialOrdersgiveninTeutsch;atthetailofwhich)。\"Spareyourwrathandindignationatyourservant,Monseigneur!You,whopreachindulgence,havealittleofitforpersonswhohavenointentionofoffendingyou,oroffailinginrespectforyou;anddeigntoreceivewithmorebenignitythehumblerepresentationswhichtheconjuncturessometimesforcefromme。F。\"——WhichrelievesEichelofhisdifficulties,andquenchesthissputter。[PluckedupfromthewasteimbrogliosofSCHONING

  (iii。296—311),byarrangingandomitting。]

  PrinceHenri,forallhiscomplaining,didbeautifullythisSeasonagain(thoughtousitmustbesilent,beingsmall—warmerely);——

  andinparticular,MAY12th)earlyinthemorning,simultaneouslyinmanydifferentparts,burstacrosstheMulda,tenortwentymileslong(orBROADrather,fromhisrighthandtohisleft),suddenaslightning,uponthesupineSerbelloniandhisAustriansandReichsfolk。Andhurledthemback,oneandall,almosttothePlauenChasmandtheiroldhaunts;wideninghisquartersnotably。

  [BerichtvondemUeberganguberdieMulde,denderPrinzHeinrichden12tenMay1762glucklichausgefuhrt(inSeyfarth,Beylagen,iii,280—291)。]Areallybrilliantthing,testifieseverybody,thoughnottobedweltonhere。Seidlitzwasofit(muchfinecuttingandcareering,fromtheSeidlitzandothers,wehavetoomitinthesetwoSaxonCampaigns!)

  ——Seidlitzwasofit;heandanotherstillmorespecialacquaintanceofours,thelearnedQuintusIcilius;whoalsodidhisbestinit,butlosthis\"AMUSETTE\"(smallbitofcannon,\"Plaything,\"socalledbyMarechaldeSaxe,inventorofthearticle),anddidnotshinelikeSeidlitz。

  Henri’squartersbeingnotablywidenedinthisway,andnothingbuttorpidSerbellonisandPrinceStollbergsontheoppositepart,Henri\"drewhimselfoutthirty—fivemileslong;\"andstoodthere,almostlookingintoPlauenregionasformerly。AndwithhisfierySeidlitzes,Kleists,madeahandsomeSummerofit。AndbeattheAustriansandReichsfolkatFreyberg(OCTOBER29th)afineBattle,andhissoleone),——ontheHorsewhichafterwardscarriedGellert,asispleasantlyknown。

  ButweareomittingthenewsfromPetersburg,——whichcametheverydayafterthatgloomyLETTERTOD’ARGENS;monthsbeforetheTIFFOF

  QUARRELwithHenri,andthebrilliantbetterdestiniesofthatGentlemaninhisCampaign。

  BRIGHTNEWSFROMPETERSBURG(certain,Jan。19th);WHICHGROW

  EVERBRIGHTER;ANDBECOMEASTAR—OF—DAYFORFRIEDRICH。

  ToFriedrich,longbeforeallthisofHenri,indeedalmostontheverydaywhilehewaswritingsodespondentlytoD’Argens,anewphasishadarisen。HardlyhadhebeenfiveweeksatBreslau,inthosegloomycircumstances,when,——aboutthemiddleofJanuary,1762(daynotgiven,thoughitisforevernotable),——therearriverumors,arrivenews,——newsfromPetersburg;suchasthisKingneverhadbefore!\"AmongthethousandillstrokesofFortune,doesthereatlengthcomeonepre—eminentlygood?TheunspeakableSovereignWoman,issheverilydead,then,andbecomepeaceabletomeforevermore?\"WepromisedFriedrichawonderfulstar—of—day;andthisisit,——thoughitislongbeforehedarequiteregarditassuch。Peter,theSuccessor,heknowstobesecretlyhisfriendandadmirer;ifonly,inthenewCzarishcapacityanditschaoticenvironmentsandconditions,Peterdareandcanassertthesefeelings?WhatahopetoFriedrich,fromthistimeonward!

  Russiamaybecountedasthebiggerhalfofallhehadtostrivewith;thebigger,oratleastthefaruglier,moreruinousandincendiary;——andifthiswereatoncetakenaway,thinkwhatadaybreakwhenthenightwasattheblackest!

  Piouspeoplesay,Thedarkesthourisoftennearestthedawn。AndadawnthisprovedtobeforFriedrich。Andthefactgrewalwaysthelongerthebrighter;——andbeforeCampaigntime,hadripenedintorealdaylightandsunrise。Thedatesshouldhavebeenprecise;

  butarenottobehadso:hereisthenearestwecouldcome。

  January14th,writingtoHenri,theKinghasamysteriouswordabout\"possibilitiesofanuncommonsort,\"——rumorsfromPetersburg,Icouldconjecture;thoughperhapstheyareonlyTurkorTartar—

  Khanaffairs,whicharehigherthisyearthanever,andasfutileasever。But,onJANUARY19th,hehasheardplainly,——withwhathopes(ifonedurstindulgethem)!——thattheimplacableImperialWoman,INFAMECATINDUNORD,isverilydead。Dead;anddoesnothatemeanymore。Deliverance,PeaceandVictorylieintheword!——

  Catinhadlongbeenfailing,buttheykeptitreligiouslysecretwithintheCourtwalls:evenatPetersburgnobodyknewtillthePrayersoftheChurchwererequired:Prayersaszealousasyoucan,——theDoctorshavingplainlyintimatedthatsheisdesperate,andthatthethingisover。OnCHRISTMAS—DAY,1761,byRussianStyle,5thJANUARY,1762,byEuropean,thepoorImperialCatinlaydead;——adeathstillmoreimportantthanthatofGeorgeII。tothisKing。

  PeterIII。,whosucceededhaslangbeenprivatelyaswornfriendandadmireroftheKing;andhastens,nottooSLOWLYastheKinghadfeared,butfarthereverse,tomakethatknowntoallmankind。

  That,andmuchelse,——inafartooheadlongmanner,poorsoul!

  Likeanardent,violent,totallyinexperiencedperson(enfranchisedSCHOOL—BOY,cometotheageofthirty—four),whohassathithertoindarkness,inintolerablecompression;asifburiedalive!HeisnowCzarPeter,Autocrat,notofHimselfonly,butofAlltheRussias;——andhas,besidesthecompleteregenerationofRussia,twogreatthoughts:FIRST,ThatofavengingnativeHolstein,andhispoormartyrofaFathernowwithGod,againsttheDanes;——and,SECOND,whatisscarcelysecondinimportancetothefirst,andindeedispracticallyakindofpreliminarytoit,ThatofdeliveringthePrussianPatternofHeroesfromsuchapatternoffoulcombinations,andbringingPeacetoEurope,whilehesettlestheHolstein—Danishbusiness。PeterisRussianbytheMother’sside;hisMotherwasSisterofthelateCatin,aDaughter,likeher,ofCzarPetercalledtheGreat,andofthelittlebrownCatharinewhomwesawtransientlylongago。HisHolsteinBusinessshallconcernuslittle;butthatwithFriedrich,duringthebriefSixMonthsallowedhimforit,——forit,andforallhisremainingbusinessesinthisworld,——isofthehighestimportancetoFriedrichandus。

  Peterisoneofthewildestmen;hisfate,whichwastragical,isnowtomostreadersratherofaghastlygrotesquethanofalamentableandpitiablecharacter。Fewknow,orhaveeverconsidered,inhowwildanelementpoorPeterwasbornandnursed;

  whatatimehehashad,sincehisfifteenthyearespecially,whenCousinofZerbstandheweremarried。Perhapsthewildestandmaddestanyhumansoulhad,duringthatCentury。Ifindinhim,startingoutfromtheLetheanquagmireswherehehadtogrow,acertainrashgreatnessofidea;tracesofveritableconviction,justresolution;veritableandjust,thoughrash。ThatofadmirationforKingFriedrichwasnotintrinsicallyfoolish,inthesolitarythoughtsofthepooryoungfellow;nayitwasthereverse;

  thoughitwashighlyinopportuneintheplacewherehestood。

  NorwastheHolsteinnotionbad;itwasgenerousrather,nobleandnatural,though,again,somewhatimpracticableinthecircumstances。

  ThesummaryoftheFriedrich—Peterbusinessisperhapsalreadyknowntomostreaders,andcanbeverybrieflygiven;norisPeter’stragicalSixMonthsofCzarship(5thJANUARY—9thJULY,1762)athingforustodwellonbeyondneed。Butitiswildlytragical;strokesofdeeppathosinit,blendedwiththeghastlyandgrotesque:itispartofFriedrich’sstrangeelementandenvironment:andthoughtheouterincidentsarepublicenough,itisessentiallylittleknown。HadtherebeenanAEschylus,hadtherebeenaShakspeare!——ButpoorPeter’sshockingSixMonthsofHistoryhasbeentreatedbyafardifferentsetofhands,themselvesalmostshockingtosee:and,totheseriouslyinquiringmind,itlies,andwilllonglie,inaverywaste,chaotic,enigmaticcondition。

  Here,outofconsiderablebundlesnowburnt,aresomeroughjottings,ExcerptsofNotesandStudies,——which,Istilldoubtrather,oughttohavegoneinAUTODAFEalongwiththeothers。

  AUTODAFEIcalledit;ActofFAITH,notSpanish—Inquisitional,butessentiallyCelestialmanytimes,ifyoureflectwellonthepoisonousconsequences,onthesinfulnessanddeadlycriminality,ofHumanBabble,——asnobodydoesnowadays!IlabelthedifferentPieces,andtrytomakelegible;——hastyreadershavetheprivilegeofskipping,iftheylike。ThefirstTwoareofpreliminaryorprefatorynature,——perhapsstillmoreskippablethanthosethatwillbyandbyfollow。

  1。GENEALOGYOFPETER。\"HisgrandfatherwasFriedrichIV。,DukeofHolstein—GottorpandSchleswig,KarlXII。’sbrother—in—law;

  onwhosescoreitwas(Denmarkfindingthetimeopportuneforastrokeofrobberythere)thatKarlXII。,ayoungladhardlyeighteen,firsttookarms;andbeganthecareeroffightingthatastonishedDenmarkandcertainotherNeighborswhohadbeentoocovetousonayoungKing。ThishisyoungBrother—in—law,FriedrichofHolstein—Gottorp(younghetoo,thoughKarl’sseniorbytenyears),hadbeenreinstatedinhisTerritory,andtheDanessternlyforbiddenfartherburglarythere,bythevictoriousKarl;butwentwithKarlinhisfartherexpeditions。AlwaysKarl’sintimate,andathisrighthandforthenexttwoyears:fellintheBattleofClissow,19thJuly,1702;agenotyetthirty—one。

  \"HeleftasHeirapooryoungBoy,atthistimeonlytwoyearsold。

  HisyoungWidowHedwigsurvivedhimsixyears。[Michaelis,ii。

  618—629。]Herpoorchildgrewtomanhood;andhadtragicfortunesinthisworld;Danesagainburglariousinthatpart,againrobbingthispoorBoyatdiscretion,sosoonasKarlXII。becameunfortunate;andrefusingtorestore(havenotrestoredSchleswigatall[A。D。1864,HAVEatlasthadtodoit,underunexpectedcircumstances!]):——agrimlysadstorytothenowPeter,hisonlyChild!ThispoorDukeatlastdied,18thJune,1739,agethirty—

  nine;thenowPeterthenabout11,——whowellrememberstragicPapa;

  tragicMammanot,whodiedabovetenyearsbefore。[Michaelis,ii。

  617;Hubner,tt。227,229。]

  \"CzarPetercalledtheGreathadevidentlyapityforthisunfortunateDuke,ahopeinhisjusthopes;andpleaded,asdidvariousothers,andendeavoredwiththeunjustDanes,mostlywithouteffect。Did,however,givehimoneofhisDaughterstowife;——theresultofwhomisthisnewCzarPeter,calledtheThird:

  aCzarwhoisSovereignofHolstein,andhasclaimsofSovereigntyinSweden,rightofheirshipinSchleswig,andofdamagesagainstDenmark,whichareinlitigationtothisday。TheCzarinaCATIN,tenderlyrememberingherSister,wouldhearofnoHeirtoRussiabutthisPeter。Peter,invirtueofhispaternalaffinities,waselectedKingofSwedenaboutthesametime;butpreferredRussia,——

  withaneyetohisDanes,somethink。Forcertain,didadopttheRussianExpectancy,theGreekreligionsocalled;andwas,\"inthewaywesawlongyearsago,\"married(ortoallappearancemarried)

  toCatharinaAlexiewnaofAnhalt—Zerbst,borninStettin;

  [HerrPreussknowsthehouse:\"NowDr。Lehmann’s[atthattimetheGovernorofStettin’s],inwhichalsoCzarPaul’ssecondSpouse[EugenofWurtembergaNEWGovernor’sDaughter],whoisMotheroftheCzarsthatfollow,wasborn:\"Preuss,ii。310,311。

  Catharine,duringherreign,waspiousinasmallwaytotheplaceofhercradle;senthersuccessiveMEDALS&c。toStettin,whichstillhasthemtoshow。]aLadywhobecameworld—famousasCzarinaoftheRussias。

  \"Peterisanabstrusecreature;haslived,allthiswhile,withhisCatharineanabstruselife,whichwouldhavegonealtogethermadexceptforCatharine’ssuperiorsense。Anawkward,ardent,buthelplesskindofPeter,withvehementdesires,withadashofwildmagnanimityeven:butinsuchaninextricableelement,amidsuchdarkness,suchprovocationsofunmanageableopulence,suchimpediments,imaginaryandreal,——dreadfullyrealtopoorPeter,——

  asmadehimtheuniqueofmankindinhistime。He’usedtodrillcats,’itissaid,andtodothemaddest—lookingthings(inhislateburied—alivecondition);——andfellpartly,neverquite,whichwaswonderful,intodrinking,asthesolutionofhisinextricabilities。PoorPeter:always,andnowmorethanever,thecynosureofvulturousvulpineneighbors,withal;whichinfinitelyaggravatedhisotherwisebadcase!——

  \"Forsevenoreightyears,therecamenoprogeny,norcouldcome;

  abouttheeighthorninth,therecould,anddid:themarvellousCzarPaulthatwastobe。Concerningwhoseexactpaternitytherearestillcalumniousassertionswidelycurrent;tothisindividualEditormuchamatterofindifference,thoughonexamining,hisverdictis:’Calumnies,toallappearance;mysterieswhichdecentordecoroussocietyrefusestospeakof,andwhichindecentisprettysuretomakecalumniesoutof。’CzarPaulmaybeconsideredgenealogicallygenuine,ifthatismuchanobjecttohim。

  PoorPaul,doesnothefatherhimself,weretherenothingmore?

  OnlythatPeterandthisCathariuecouldhavebegottensuchaPaul。

  Genealogicallygenuineenough,mypoorCzar,——thatneededtobegarrotedsoverysoon!

  2。OFCATHARINEANDTHEBOOKSUPONPETERANDHER。\"CatharinetoohadanintricatetimeofitundertheCatin;whichwasconsoledtoheronlybyatolerablyrapidsuccessionoflovers,thebestthegroundyielded。InwhichdepartmentitiswellknownwhataThrice—

  Greatestshebecame:superiortoanyCharlesII。;equalalmosttoanAugusttheStrong!Ofherlovesnowandhenceforth,whichareheartilyuninterestingtome,Iproposetosaynothingfarther;

  merelythis,Thatinextenttheyprobablyrivalledthehighestmalesovereignfigures(andaretobeputinthesamecategorywiththese,anddamnedasdeep,oralittledeeper);——andcosther,ingifts,inmagnificentpensionstotheEMERITI(forshedidthingsalwaysinagrandiosemanner,quietlyandyetinexorablydismissingtheEMERITUSwithstoresofgold),theconsiderablesumof20

  millionssterling,inthecourseofherlongreign。One,oratmosttwo,wereoffonpension,whenHanburyWilliamsbroughtPoniatowskiforher,aswetransientlysaw。PoniatowskiwillbeKingofPolandinthecourseofevents……

  \"Russiaisnotapublishingcountry;theBooksaboutCatharinearefew,andoflittleworth。TOOKE,anEnglishChaplain;CASTERA,anunknownFrenchHanger—on,whocopiesfromTooke,orTookefromhim:

  thesearetoberead,asthebad—best,andwillyieldlittlesatisfactoryinsight;Castera,inparticular,agreatdealofdubiousbackstairsgossipandstreetrumor,whicharenotdelightfultoareaderofsense。Infine,therehasbeenpublished,intheseveryyears,aFRAGMENTofearlyAUTOBIOGRAPHYbyCatharineherself,——acredibleandhighlyremarkablelittlePiece:worthalltheothers,ifitisknowledgeofCatharineyouareseeking。

  [Memoiresdel’ImperatriceCatharineII。,ecritsparelle—

  meme(A。Herzenediting;London,1859);——whichwealreadycited,onoccasionofCatharine’smarriage。

  Anonymous(Castera),ViedeCatharineII。,ImperatricedeRussie(aParis,1797;orreprinted,mostofit,enoughofit,AVARSOVIE,1798)2tomes,8vo。Tooke,LifeofCatharineII。(4thedition,London,1800),3vols。

  8vo;ViewoftheRussianEmpireduring&c。

  (London,1799),3vols。8vo。—Hermann,GeschichtedesRussischenStaats(Hamburg,1853ETANTEA),v。241—308

  etseq。;isbymuchthemostsolidBook,thoughadullandheavy。

  Stenzelcites,asdoesHermann,aBiographiePetersdesIIIten;whichnodoubtexists,inperhaps3volumes;

  butwhere,when,bywhom,orofwhatquality,theydonottellme。]

  Amostplacid,solid,substantialyoungLadycomestolightthere;

  droppedintosuchanelementasmighthavedrivenmostpeoplemad。

  Butitdidnother;itonlymadeherwiserandwiserinhergeneration。Elementblack,hideous,dirty,asLaplandSorcery;——inwhichthefirstcleardutyis,toholdone’stonguewell,andkeepone’seyesopen。Stars,——notveryheavenly,butoffixednature,andheavenlytoCatharine,——astarortwo,shinethroughtheabominablemurk:Steady,patient;steersilently,inallweathers,towardsthese!

  \"YoungCatharine’simmovableequanimityinthisdistractedenvironmentstrikesusverymuch。Peteriscareering,tumblingabout,onallmannerofabsurdbroomsticks,driventoosurelybytheDevil;terrific—absurdbigLaplandWitch,surroundedbymultitudessmaller,andsomeofthemlessugly。WillbeCzarofRussia,however;——andisone’sso—calledHusband。Theseareprospectsforanobservant,immovablysteady—goingyoungWoman!

  ThereigningCzarina,oldCATINherself,issilentlytheOlympianJovetoCatharine,whoreveresherverymuch。Thougharticulatelystupidasever,inthisBookofCatharine’s,shecomesoutwithadumbweight,ofsilence,ofobstinacy,ofintricateabruptrigor,which——whoknowsbutitmaysavorofdumbunconsciouswisdominthefatoldblockhead?TheBooksayslittleofher,andinthewayofcriticism,ofpraiseorofblame,nothingwhatever;butonegainsthenotionofsomedarkhumanfemaleobject,biggerthanonehadfancieditbefore。

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