HumanitiesWeb.org - History of Friedrich II of Prussia - Frederick the Great (Chapter IV. - Friedrich Puts a Question at Vienna, Twice Over.) by Thomas Carlyle
History of Friedrich II of Prussia - Frederick the Great Chapter IV. - Friedrich Puts a Question at Vienna, Twice Over.
by Thomas Carlyle
July 18th, 1756, Friedrich despatches an Express to Graf von
Klinggraf, his Resident at Vienna (an experienced man, whom we have
seen before in old Carteret, "Conference-of-Hanau" times), To
demand audience of the Empress; and, in the fittest terms, friendly
and courteous, brief and clear, to put that question of Mitchell's
suggesting. "Those unwonted Armaments, Camps in Bohmen, Camps in
Mahren, and military movements and preparations," Klinggraf is to
say, "have caused anxiety in her Majesty's peaceable Neighbor of
Prussia; who desires always to continue in peace; and who requests
hereby a word of assurance from her Majesty, that these his
anxieties are groundless." Friedrich himself hopes little or
nothing from this; but he has done it to satisfy people about him,
and put an end to all scruples in himself and others. The Answer
may be expected in ten or twelve days.
And, about the same time,--likely enough, directly after, though
there is no date given, to a fact which is curious and authentic,--
Friedrich sent for two of his chief Generals, to Potsdam, for a
secret Conference with Winterfeld and him. The Generals are, old
Schwerin and General Retzow Senior,--Major-General Retzow, whom we
used to hear of in the Silesian Wars,--and whose Son reports on
this occasion. Conference is on this Imminency of War, and as to
what shall be done in it. Friedrich explains in general terms his
dangers from Austria and Russia, his certainty that Austria will
attack him; and asks, Were it, or were it not, better to attack
Austria, as is our Prussian principle in such case? Schwerin and
Retzow--Schwerin first, as the eldest; and after him Retzow, "who
privately has charge from the Prussian Princes to do it"--opine
strongly: That indications are uncertain, that much seems
inevitable which does not come; that in a time of such tumultuous
whirlings and unexpected changes, the true rule is, Watch well,
and wait.
After enough of this, with Winterfeld looking dissent but saying
almost nothing, Friedrich gives sign to Winterfeld;--who spreads
out, in their lucidest prearranged order, the principal Menzel-
Weingarten Documents; and bids the two Military Gentlemen read.
They read; with astonishment, are forced to believe; stand gazing
at one another;--and do now take a changed tone. Schwerin, "after a
silence of everybody for some minutes,"--"bursts out like one
inspired; 'If War is to be and must be, let us start to-morrow;
seize Saxony at once; and in that rich corny Country form Magazines
for our Operations on Bohemia!'" [Retzow, i. 39.]
That is privately Friedrich's own full intention. Saxony, with its
Elbe River as Highway, is his indispensable preliminary for
Bohemia: and he will not, a second time, as he did in 1744 with
such results, leave it in an unsecured condition. Adieu then,
Messieurs; silent: AU REVOIR, which may be soon! Retzow Junior, a
rational, sincere, but rather pipe-clayed man, who is wholly to be
trusted on this Conference, with his Father for authority, has some
touches of commentary on it, which indicate (date being 1802) that
till the end of his life, or of Prince Henri his Patron's, there
remained always in some heads a doubt as to Friedrich's wisdom in
regard to starting the Seven-Years War, and to Schwerin's entire
sincerity in that inspired speech. And still more curious, that
there was always, at Potsdam as elsewhere, a Majesty's Opposition
Party; privately intent to look at the wrong side; and doing it
diligently,--though with lips strictly closed for most part;
without words, except well-weighed and to the wise: which is an
excellent arrangement, for a Majesty and Majesty's Opposition,
where feasible in the world!--
From Retzow I learn farther, that Winterfeld, directly on the back
of this Conference, took a Tour to the Bohemian Baths, "To
Karlsbad, or Toplitz, for one's health;" and wandered about a good
deal in those Frontier Mountains of Bohemia, taking notes, taking
sketches (not with a picturesque view); and returned by the Saxon
Pirna Country, a strange stony labyrinth, which he guessed might
possibly be interesting soon. The Saxon Commandant of the
Konigstein, lofty Fortress of those parts, strongest in Saxony, was
of Winterfeld's acquaintance: Winterfeld called on this Commandant;
found his Konigstein too high for cannonading those neighborhoods,
but that there was at the base of it a new Work going on; and that
the Saxons were, though languidly, endeavoring to bestir themselves
in matters military. Their entire Army at present is under 20,000;
but, in the course of next Winter, they expect to have it 40,000.
Shall be of that force, against Season 1757. No doubt Winterfeld's
gatherings and communications had their uses at Potsdam, on his
getting home from this Tour to Toplitz.
Meanwhile, Klinggraf has had his Audience at Vienna; and has sped
as ill as could have been expected. The Answer given was of
supercilious brevity; evasive, in effect null, and as good as
answering, That there is no answer. Two Accounts we have, as
Friedrich successively had them, of this famed passage:
FIRST, Klinggraf's own, which is clear, rapid, and stands by the
essential; SECOND, an account from the other side of the scenes,
furnished by Menzel of Dresden, for Friedrich's behoof and ours;
which curiously illustrates the foregoing, and confirms the
interpretation Friedrich at once made of it. This is Menzel's
account; in other words, the Saxon Envoy at Vienna's, stolen
by Menzel.
July 26th, it appears, Klinggraf--having applied to Kaunitz the day
before, who noticed a certain flurry in him, and had answered
carelessly, "Audience? Yes, of course; nay I am this moment going
to the Empress: only you must tell me about what?"--was admitted to
the Imperial Presence, he first of many that were waiting. Imperial
Presence held in its hand a snip of Paper, carefully composed by
Kaunitz from the data, and read these words: "DIE BEDENKLICHEN
UMSTANDE, The questionable circumstances of the Time have moved me
to consider as indispensably necessary those measures which, for my
own security and for defence of my Allies, I am taking, and which
otherwise do not tend the least towards injury of anybody
whatsoever;"--and adding no syllable more, gave a sign with her
hand, intimating to Klinggraf that the Interview was done.
Klinggraf strode through the Antechamber, "visibly astonished," say
on-lookers, at such an Answer had. Answer, in fact, "That there is
no answer," and the door flung in your face! [ Helden-
Geschichte, iii. 772. In Valori, ii. 128, Friedrich's
little Paper of INSTRUCTIONS to Klinggraf; this Vienna ANSWER to
it, ib. 138:--see ib. 138, 162; and Gesammelte
Nachrichten, ii. 214-221.]
Friedrich, on arrival of report from Klinggraf, and without waiting
for the Menzel side of the scenes, sees that the thing is settled.
Writes again, however (August 2d, probably the day after, or the
same day, Klinggraf's Despatch reached him); instructing Klinggraf
To request "a less oracular response;" and specially, "If her
Imperial Majesty (Austria and Russia being, as is understood, in
active League against, him) will say, That Austria will not attack
him this year or the next?" Draw up memorial of that, Monsieur
Klinggraf; and send us the supercilious No-Answer: till which
arrive we do not cross the Frontier,--but are already everywhere on
march to it, in an industrious, cunningly devised, evident and yet
impenetrably mysterious manner.
Excellency Valori never saw such activity of military preparation:
such Artillery, "2,000 big pieces in the Park here;" Regiments,
Wagon-trains, getting under way everywhere, no man can guess
whitherward; "drawn up in the Square here, they know not by what
Gate they are to march." By three different Gates, I should think;
--mysteriously, in Three Directions, known only to King Friedrich
and his Adjutant-General, all these Regiments in Berlin and
elsewhere are on march. Towards Halle (Leipzig way);
towards Brietzen (Wittenberg and Torgau way); towards Bautzen
neighborhood,--towards Three settled Points of the Saxon Frontier;
will step across the instant the supercilious No-Answer comes to
hand. Are to converge about Dresden and the Saxon Switzerland;--
about 65,000 strong, equipped as no Army before or since has been;
--and take what luck there may be.
Bruhl and Polish Majesty's Army, still only about 18,000, have
their apprehensions of such visit: but what can they do? The Saxon
Army draws out into Camp, at sight of this mysterious marching;
strong Camp "in the angle of Elbe and Mulde Rivers;"--then draws in
again; being too weak for use. And is thinking, Menzel informs us,
to take post in the stony labyrinthic Pirna Country: such the
advice an Excellency Broglio has given;--French Excellency, now in
Dresden; Marechal de Broglio's Son, and of little less explosive
nature than his Father was. Bruhl and Polish Majesty, guessing that
the hour is come, are infinitely interested. Interested, not
flurried. "Austrian-Russian Anti-Prussian Covenant!" say Bruhl and
Majesty, rather comfortably to themselves: "We never signed it.
WE never would sign anything; what have we to do with it? Courage;
steady; To Pirna, if they come! Are not Excellency Broglio, and
France, and Austria, and the whole world at our back?"
It was full three weeks before Klinggraf's Message of Answer could
arrive at Berlin. Of Friedrich in the interim, launching such a
world-adventure, himself silent, in the midst of a buzzing Berlin,
take these indications, which are luminous enough. Duke Ferdinand
of Brunswick is to head one of the Three "Columns." Duke Ferdinand,
Governor of Magdeburg, is now collecting his Column in that
neighborhood, chiefly at Halle; whitherward, or on what errand, is
profoundly unknown. Unknown even to Ferdinand, except that it is
for actual Service in the Field. Here are two Friedrich Letters
(ruggedly Official, the first of them, and not quite peculiar to
Ferdinand), which are worth reading:--
THE KING TO DUKE FERDINAND OF BRUNSWICK.
"POTSDAM, 15th August, 1756.
"For time of Field-Service I have made the arrangement, That for
the Subaltern Officers of your regiment, over and above their
ordinary Equipage-moneys, there shall, to each Subaltern Officer,
and once for all, be Eight Thalers [twenty-four shillings sterling]
advanced. That sum [eight thalers per subaltern] shall be paid to
the Captain of every Company; and besides this there shall,
monthly, Two Thalers be deducted from the Subaltern's Pay, and be
likewise paid over to the Captain:--in return for which, He is to
furnish Free Table for the Subalterns throughout the Campaign, and
so long as the regiment is in the field.
"Of the Two Baggage-carts per Company, the regiment shall take only
One, and leave the other at home. No Officer, let him be who or of
what title he will, Generals not excepted, shall take with him the
least of Silver Plate, not even a silver spoon. Whoever wants,
therefore, to keep table, great or small (TAFEL ODER TISCH), must
manage the same with tin utensils;--without exception, be he who
he will.
"Each Captain shall take with him a little Cask of Vinegar;
of which, as soon as the regiments get to Camp, he must give me
reckoning, and I will then have him repaid. This Vinegar shall
solely and exclusively be employed for this purpose, That in places
where the water is bad, there be poured into it, for the soldiers,
a few drops of the vinegar, to correct the water, and thereby
preserve them from illnesses.
"So soon as the regiment gets on march, the Women who have
permission to follow are put under command of the Profoss;
that thereby all plunderings and disorders may the more be guarded
against. If the Captains and Officers take Grooms (JAGER) or the
like Domestics, there can muskets be given to these, that use may
be had of them, in case of an attack in quarters, or on march, when
a WAGENBURG (wagon-fortress) is to be formed. ... FRIEDRICH."
[Preuss, ii. 6, 7.]
SAME TO SAME (Confidential, this one).
"POTSDAH, 24th August.
... "Make as if you were meaning to go into Camp at Halle.
The reason why I stop you is, that the Courier from Vienna has not
yet come. We must therefore reassure the Saxon neighborhood.
... I have been expecting answer from hour to hour; cannot suitably
begin a War-Expedition till it come; do therefore apprise Your
Dilection, though under the deepest secrecy.
"And it is necessary, and my Will is, That, till farther order, you
keep all the regiments and corps belonging to your Column in the
places where they are when this arrives. And shall, meanwhile, with
your best skill mask all this, both from the Town of Halle, and
from the regiments themselves; making, in conformity with what I
said yesterday, as if you were a Corps of Observation come to
encamp here, and were waiting the last orders to go into camp.
FRIEDRICH." [Ib. ii. 7, 8.]
And in regard to the Vienna Courier, and Friedrich's attitude
towards that Phenomenon, read only these Two Notes:--
1. FRIEDRICH TO THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA AND THE PRINCESS AMELIA (at Berlin)
POTSDAM, "25th August," 1756.
"MY DEAR BROTHER, MY DEAR SISTER,--I write to you both at once, for
want of time. I will follow the advice you are so good as give me;
and will take leave of the Queen [our dear Mamma] by Letter.
And that the reading of my Letter may not frighten her, I will send
it by my Sister, to be presented in a favorable moment.
"I have yet got no Answer from Vienna; by Klinggraf's account, I
shall not receive it till to-morrow [came this night], But I count
myself surer of War than ever; as the Austrians have named
Generals, and their Army is ordered to march, from Kolin to
Konigsgratz"--Schlesien way. "So that, expecting nothing but a
haughty Answer, or a very uncertain one, on which there will be no
reliance possible, I have arranged everything for setting out on
Saturday next. To-morrow, so soon as the news comes, I will not
fail to let you know. Assuring you that I am, with a perfect
affection, my dear Brother and my dear Sister,--Yours,--F."
[ OEuvres de Frederic, xxvi. 155.]
Answer comes from Klinggraf that same night. Once more, an Answer
almost worse than could have been expected. "The 'League with
Russia against you' is nonextant, a thing of your imagination:
Have not we already answered?" [In Gesammelte Urkunden,
i. 217: Klinggraf's second question (done by Letter
this time), "18th August;" Maria Theresa's Answer, "21st August,"]
Whereupon,
2. FRIEDRICH TO THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA.
POTSDAM, "26th August," 1756.
"MY DEAR BROTHER,--I have already written to the Queen; softening
things as much as I could [Letter lost]. My Sister, to whom I
address the Letter, will deliver it.
"You have seen the Paper I sent to Klinggraf. Their Answer is 'That
they have not made an Offensive Alliance with Russia against me.'
The Answer is impertinent, high and contemptuous; and of the
Assurance that I required [as to This Year and next], not one word.
So that the sword alone can cut this Gordian Knot. I am innocent of
this War; I have done what I could to avoid it; but whatever be
one's love of peace, one cannot and must not sacrifice to that,
one's safety and one's honor. Such, I believe, will be your opinion
too, from the sentiments I know in you. At present, our one thought
must be, To do War in such a way as may cure our Enemies of their
wish to break Peace again too soon. I embrace you with all my
heart. I have had no end of business (TERRIBLEMENT A FAIRE)."--F.
[ OEuvres, xxvi. 116.]
THE MARCH INTO SAXONY, IN THREE COLUMNS.
Ahead of that last Note, from an earlier hour of the same day,
Thursday, 26th August, there is speeding forth, to all Three
Generals of Division, this Order (take Duke Ferdinand's copy}:--
"I hereby order that Your Dilection (EW. LIEBDEN), with all the
regiments and corps in the Column standing under your command,
Shall now, without more delay, get on march, on the 29th inst.;
and proceed, according to the March-Tables and Instructions already
given, to execute what Your Dilection has got in charge."--F.
The same Thursday, 26th, Excellency Mitchell, informed by Podewils
of the King's wish to see him at Potsdam, gets under way from
Berlin; arrives "just time enough to speak with the King before he
sat down to supper." Very many things to be consulted of, and
deliberatively touched upon, with Mitchell and England; no end of
things and considerations, for England and King Friedrich, in this
that is now about to burst forth on an astonished world!--Over in
London, we observe, just in the hours when Mitchell was harnessing
for Potsdam, and so many Orders and Letters were speeding their
swiftest in that quarter, there is going forward, on Tower-Hill
yonder, the following Operation:--
"LONDON, THURSDAY, 26th AUGUST, 1756. About five in the afternoon,
a noted Admiral [only in Effigy as yet; but who has been held in
miserable durance, and too actual question of death or life, ever
since his return: "Oh, yes indeed! Hang HIM at once",--if that can
be a remedy!] was, after having been privately shown to many ladies
and gentlemen, brought--in an open sedan, guarded by a number of
young gentlemen under arms, with drums beating, colors flying--to
Tower-Hill, where a Gallows had been erected for him at six the
same morning. He was richly dressed, in a blue and gold coat, buff
waistcoat, trimmed, &c. in full uniform. When brought under the
Gallows, he stayed a small space, till his clergyman (a chimney-
sweeper) had given him some admonitions: that done, he was drawn,
by pulleys, to the top of the Gallows, which was twenty feet high;
every person expressing as much satisfaction as if it had been the
real man.
"He remained there, guarded by the above volunteers, without any
molestation, two hours; when, upon a supposition of being
obstructed by the Governor of the Tower, some sailors appeared, who
wanted to pull him down, in order to drag him along the streets.
But a fire being kindled, which consisted of tar-barrels, fagots,
tables, tubs, &c., he was consumed in about half an hour."
[Old Newspapers ( Gentleman's Magazine,
xxvi. 409).]
That is their employment on Tower-Hill, over yonder, while Mitchell
is getting under way to see Friedrich.
Mitchell continued at Potsdam over Friday; and was still in eager
consultation that night, when the King said to him, with a certain
expressiveness of glance: "BON SOIR, then;--To-morrow morning
about four!" And on the morrow, Saturday, 28th, Mitchell
reports hurriedly:--
"... Am just returned to Berlin, in time to write to your Lordship.
This morning, between four and five, I took leave of the King of
Prussia. Hr went immediately upon the Parade; mounted on horseback;
and, after a very short exercise of his Troops, put himself at
their head; and marched directly for Belitz [half-way to Brietzen,
TREUENbrietzen as they call it]; where, To-morrow, he will enter
the Saxon Territory,"--as, at their respective points, his two
other Columns will;--and begin, who shall say what terrible game;
incalculable to your Lordship and me, with such Operations afoot on
Tower-Hill! [Mitchell Papers, vi. 804 ("To Lord Holderness, 28th
August, 1756").]--
Seven Hussar Regiments of Duke Ferdinand's Column got the length of
Leipzig that Sunday Evening, 29th; and took possession of the
place. [In Helden-Geschichte, iii. 731, his
"Proclamation" there, 29th August, 1756.] Duke Ferdinand to right
of the King, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern to left,--the Three Columns
cross the Border, at points, say 80 miles from one another;
occasionally, on the march, bending to rightwards and leftwards, to
take in the principal Towns, and make settlements there, the two
might be above a hundred miles from Friedrich on each hand. The
length of march for each Column,--Ferdinand "from Leipzig, by
Chemnitz, Freyberg, Dippoldiswalde, to the Village of Cotta" (Pirna
neighborhood, south of Elbe); Bevern, "through the Lausitz, by
Bautzen, to Lohmen" (same neighborhood, north of Elbe);
King Friedrich, to Dresden, by the course of the Elbe itself, was
not far from equal, and may be called about 150 miles. They marched
with diligence, not with hurry; had their pauses, rest-days, when
business required. They got to their ground, with the
simultaneousness appointed, on the eleventh or twelfth day.
The middle Column, under the King, where Marshal Keith is second in
command, goes by Torgau (detaching Moritz of Dessau to pick up
Wittenberg, and ruin the slight works there); crosses the Elbe at
Torgau, September 2d; marches, cantoning itself day after day,
along the southern bank of the River; leaves Meissen to the left, I
perceive, does not pass through Meissen; comes first at Wilsdruf on
ground where we have been,--and portions of it, I doubt not, were
billeted in Kesselsdorf; and would take a glance at the old Field,
if they had time. There is strict discipline in all the Columns;
the authorities complying on summons, and arranging what is
needful. Nobody resists; town-guards at once ground arms, and there
is no soldier visible; soldiers all ebbing away, whitherward we
guess. [ Helden-Geschichte, iii. 732, 733;
OEuvres de Frederic, iv. 81.]
At Wilsdruf, Friedrich first learns for certain, that the Saxon
Army, with King, with Bruhl and other chief personages, are
withdrawn to Pirna, to the inexpugnable Konigstein and Rock-
Country. The Saxon Army had begun assembling there, September 1st,
directly on the news that Friedrich was across the Border;
September 9th, on Friedrich's approach, the King and Dignitaries
move off thither, from Dresden, out of his way. Excellency Broglio
has put them on that plan. Which may have its complexities for
Friedrich, hopes Broglio,--though perhaps its still greater for
some other parties concerned! For Bruhl and Polish Majesty, as will
appear by and by, nothing could have turned out worse.
Meanwhile Friedrich pushes on: "Forward, all the same." Polish
Majesty, dating from Struppen, in the Pirna Country, has begun a
Correspondence with Friedrich, very polite on both hands; and his
Adjutant-General, the Chevalier Meagher ("Chevalier de MARRE," as
Valori calls him,--MA'AR, as he calls himself in Irish), has just
had, at Wilsdruf, an interview with Friedrich; but is far from
having got settlement on the terms he wished. Polish Majesty
magnanimously assenting to "a Road through his Country for military
purposes;" offers "the strictest Neutrality, strictest friendship
even; has done, and will do, no injury whatever to his Prussian
Majesty--["Did we ever SIGN anything?" whisper comfortably Bruhl
and he to one another];--expects, therefore, that his Prussian
Majesty will march on, whither he is bound; and leave him
unmolested here." [ Helden-Geschichte,
iii. 774.]
That was Meagher's message; that is the purport of all his Polish
Majesty's Eleven Letters to Friedrich, which precede or follow,--
reiterating with a certain ovine obstinacy, insensible to time or
change, That such is Polish Majesty's fixed notion:
"Strict neutrality, friendship even; and leave me unmolested here."
[In OEuvres de Frederic, iv. 235-260 ("29th
August-10th September-18th September," 1756), are collected now,
the Eleven Letters, with their Answers.] "Strict neutrality, yes:
but disperse your Army, then," answers Friedrich; send your Army
back to its cantonments: I must myself have the keeping of my
Highway, lest I lose it, as in 1744." This is Friedrich's answer;
this at first, and for some time coming; though, as the aspects
change, and the dangerous elements heap themselves higher,
Friedrich's answer will rise with them, and his terms, like the
Sibyl's, become worse and worse. This is the utmost that Meagher,
at Wilsdruf, can make of it; and this, in conceivable
circumstances, will grow less and less.
Next day, September 9th, Friedrich, with some Battalions, entered
Dresden, most of his Column taking Camp near by; General Wylich had
entered yesterday, and is already Commandant there. Friedrich
sends, by Feldmarschall Keith, highest Officer of his Column, his
homages to her Polish Majesty:--nothing given us of Keith's
Interview; except by a side-wind, "That Majesty complained of those
Prussian Sentries walking about in certain of her corridors" (with
an eye to Something, it may be feared!)--of which, doubtless, Keith
undertook to make report. Friedrich himself waits upon the Junior
Princes, who are left here: is polite and gracious as ever, though
strict, and with business enough; lodges, for his own part, "in the
Garden-House of Princess Moczinska;"--and next morning leads off
his Column, a short march eastward, to the Pirna Country; where, on
the right and on the left, Ferdinand at Cotta, Bevern at Lohmen (if
readers will look on their Map), he finds the other Two in their
due positions. Head-quarter is Gross-Sedlitz (westernmost skirt of
the Rock-region); and will have to continue so, much longer than
had been expected.
The Diplomatic world in Dresden is in great emotion; more
especially just at present. This morning, before leaving, Friedrich
had to do an exceedingly strict thing: secure the Originals of
those Menzel Documents. Originals indispensable to him, for
justifying his new procedures upon Saxony. So that there has been,
at the Palace, a Scene this morning of a very high and dissonant
nature,--"Marshal Keith" in it, "Marshal Keith making a second
visit" (say some loose and false Accounts);--the facts being
strictly as follows.
Far from removing those Prussian sentries complained of last night,
here seems to be a double strength of them this morning. And her
Polish Majesty, a severe, hard-featured old Lady, has been filled
with indignant amazement by a Prussian Officer--Major von
Wangenheim, I believe it is--requiring, in the King of Prussia's
name, the Keys of that Archive-room; Prussian Majesty absolutely
needing sight, for a little while, of certain Papers there.
"Enter that room? Archives of a crowned Head? Let me see the living
mortal that will dare to do it!"--one fancies the indignant Polish
Majesty's answer; and how, calling for materials, she "openly
sealed the door in question," in Wangenheim's presence. As this is
a celebrated Passage, which has been reported in several loose
ways, let us take it from the primary source, Chancery style and
all. Graf von Sternberg, Austrian Excellency, writing from the spot
and at the hour, informs his own Court, and through that all
Courts, in these solemnly Official terms:--
"DRESDEN, 10th SEPTEMBER, 1756. The Queen's Majesty, this forenoon,
has called to her all the Foreign Ministers now at Dresden; and in
Highest Own Person has signified to us, How, the Prussian
intrusions and hostilities being already known, Highest said
Queen's Majesty would now simply state what had farther taken place
this morning:--
"Highest said Queen's Majesty, to wit, had, in her own name,
requested the King of Prussia, in conformity with his assurances
[by Keith, yesternight] of paying every regard for Her and the
Royal Family, To remove the Prussian Sentries pacing about in those
Corridors,"--Corridors which lead to the Secret Archives, important
to some of us!--"Instead of which, the said King had not only
doubled his Sentries there; but also, by an Officer, demanded the
Keys of the Archive-apartment [just alluded to]! And as the Queen's
Majesty, for security of all writings there, offered to seal the
Door of it herself, and did so, there and then,--the said Officer
had so little respect, that he clapped his own seal thereon too.
"Nor was he content therewith,"--not by any means!--"but the same
Officer [having been with Wylich, Commandant here] came back, a
short time after, and made for opening of the Door himself.
Which being announced to the Queen's Majesty, she in her own person
(HOCHSTDIESELBE, Highest-the-Same) went out again; and standing
before the Door, informed him, 'How Highest-the-Same had too much
regard to his Prussian Majesty's given assurance, to believe that
such order could proceed from the King.' As the Officer, however,
replied, 'That he was sorry to have such an order to execute;
but that the order was serious and precise; and that he, by not
executing it, would expose himself to the greatest responsibility,"
Her Majesty continued standing before the Door; and said to the
Officer, 'If he meant to use force, he might upon Her make his
beginning.'" There is for you, Herr Wangenheim!--
"Upon which said Officer had gone away, to report anew to the King
[I think, only to Wylich the Commandant; King now a dozen miles
off, not so easily reported to, and his mind known]; and in the
mean while Her Majesty had called to her the Prussian and English
Ambassadors [Mahlzahn and Stormont; sorry both of them, but how
entirely resourceless,--especially Mahlzahn!], and had represented
and repeated to them the above; beseeching that by their
remonstrances and persuasions they would induce the King of
Prussia, conformably with his given assurance, to forbear.
Instead, however, of any fruit from such remonstrances and
urgencies, final Order came, 'That, Queen's Majesty's own Highest
Person notwithstanding, force must be used.'
"Whereupon her Majesty, to avoid actual mistreatment, had been
obliged to"--to become passive, and, no Keys being procurable from
her, see a smith with his picklocks give these Prussians admission.
Legation-Secretary Plessmann was there (Menzel one fancies sitting,
rather pale, in an adjacent room [Supra, p. 266.]); and they knew
what to do. Their smith opens the required Box for them (one of
several "all lying packed for Warsaw," says Friedrich); from which
soon taking what they needed, Wangenheim and Wylich withdrew with
their booty, and readers have the fruit of it to this day.
"Which unheard-of procedure, be pleased, your Excellencies, to
report to your respective Courts." [ Gesammelte
Nachrichten, i. 222 (or "No. 26" of that Collection);
OEuvres de Frederic, iv. 83.]
Poor old Lady, what a situation! And I believe she never saw her
poor old Husband again. The day he went to Pirna (morning of
yesterday, September 9th, Friedrich entering in the evening), these
poor Spouses had, little dreaming of it, taken leave of one another
forevermore. Such profit lies in your Bruhl. Kings and Queens that
will be governed by a Jesuit Guarini, and a Bruhl of the Twelve
Tailors, sometimes pay dear for it. They, or their representatives,
are sure to do so. Kings and Queens,--yes, and if that were all:
but their poor Countries too? Their Countries;--well, their
Countries did not hate Beelzebub, in his various shapes, ENOUGH.
Their Countries should have been in watch against Beelzebub in the
shape of Bruhls;--watching, and also "praying" in a heroic manner,
now fallen obsolete in these impious times!
