THE COALITION.
Count Haugwitz, the Prussian minister of foreign affairs, had just
returned from a journey he had made with the young king to Westphalia.
In his dusty travelling-costume, and notwithstanding his exhaustion
after the fatigues of the trip, as soon as he had entered his study, he
had hastily written two letters, and then handed them to his footman,
ordering him to forward them at once to their address, to the
ambassadors of Prussia and England. Only then he had thrown himself
on his bed, but issued strict orders to awaken him as soon as the two
ambassadors had entered the house.
Scarcely an hour had elapsed when the footman awakened the count,
informing him that the two ambassadors had just arrived at the same
time, and were waiting for him in the small reception-room.
The minister hastily rose from his couch, and without devoting a single
glance to his toilet and to his somewhat dishevelled wig, he crossed
his study and entered the reception-room, where Lord Grenville and Count
Panin were waiting for him.
“Gentlemen,” said the count after a hurried bow, “be kind enough to look
at my toilet, and then I hope you will excuse me for daring to request
you to call upon me, instead of coming to you as I ought to have done.
But you see I have not even doffed my travelling habit, and it would not
have behooved me to call on you in such a costume; but the intelligence
I desire to communicate is of such importance that I wished to lose
no time in order to lay it before you, and hence I took the liberty of
inviting you to see me.”
“As far as I am concerned, I willingly accepted your invitation,” said
Lord Grenville, deliberately, “for in times like these we can well
afford to disregard the requirements of etiquette.”
“That I was no less eager to follow your call,” said Count Panin, with a
courteous smile, “you have seen from the fact that I arrived at the
same time with the distinguished ambassador of Great Britain. But now,
gentlemen, a truce to compliments; let us come to the point directly,
and without any further circumlocution. For the six months that I
have been here at Berlin, in order to negotiate with Prussia about
the coalition question, I have been so incessantly put off with empty
phrases, that I am heartily tired of that diet and long for more
substantial food.”
“Your longing will be gratified to-day, Count Panin,” said Count
Haugwitz, with a proud smile, inviting the gentlemen, by a polite
gesture, to take seats on the sofa, while he sat down in an arm-chair
opposite them. “Yes, you will find to-day a good and nourishing diet,
and I hope you will be content with the cook who has prepared it for
you. I may say that I am that cook, and believe me, gentlemen, the task
of preparing that food for you has not been a very easy one.”
“You have induced the King of Prussia at length to join the coalition,
and to enter into an alliance with Russia, England, and Austria against
the French Republic?” asked Count Panin, joyfully.
“You have told his majesty that England is ready to pay large subsidies
as soon as Prussia leads her army into the field against France?” asked
Lord Grenville.
“Gentlemen,” said Count Haugwitz, in a slightly sarcastic tone, “I feel
greatly flattered by your impetuous inquiries, for they prove to me
how highly you value an alliance with Prussia. Permit me, however,
to communicate to you quietly and composedly the whole course of
negotiations. You know that I had the honor of accompanying my royal
master on his trip to our Westphalian possessions, where his majesty was
going to review an army of sixty thousand men.”
“It would have been better to send these sixty thousand men directly
into the field, instead of losing time by useless parades,” muttered
Count Panin.
The minister seemed not to have heard the words, and continued: “His
majesty established his headquarters at Peterhagen, and there we were
informed that Archduke Charles of Austria was holding the Rhine against
Bernadotte and Jourdan, and that the imperial army, under the command
of Kray, in Italy, had been victorious, too; it is true, however,
the Russian auxiliary army, under Field-Marshal Suwarrow, had greatly
facilitated Kray’s successful operations. This intelligence did not fail
to make a powerful impression upon my young king, and I confess upon
myself too. Hitherto, you know, I had always opposed to a war against
France, and I had deemed it most expedient for Prussia to avoid
hostilities against the republic. But the brilliant achievements of
Russia and Austria in Italy, and the victories of Archduke Charles on
the Rhine, seem to prove at length that the lucky star of France is
paling, and that it would be advantageous for Prussia openly to join the
adversaries of the republic in their attack.”
“A very bold and magnanimous resolution,” said Count Panin, with a
sarcastic smile.
“A resolution influenced somewhat by the British subsidies I have
promised to Prussia, I suppose?” asked Lord Grenville.
“Let me finish my statement, gentlemen,” said Count Haugwitz,
courteously. “The king, undecided as to the course he ought to
pursue, assembled at Paterhagen a council of war, our great commander,
Ferdinand, duke of Brunswick, of course, having been invited to be
present. His majesty requested us to state honestly and sincerely
whether we were in favor of war or peace with France. The duke of
Brunswick was, of course, the first speaker who replied to the king; he
voted for war. He gave his reasons in a fiery and energetic speech, and
demonstrated to the king that at a time when England was about to send
an army to Holland, an advance into Holland by our own army would be
highly successful. For my part, I unconditionally assented to the duke’s
opinion, and Baron Kockeritz declaring for it likewise, the king did not
hesitate any longer, but took a great and bold resolution. He ordered
the Duke of Brunswick to draw up a memorial, stating in extenso why
Prussia ought to participate in the war against France, and to send in
at the same time a detailed plan of the campaign. He instructed me to
return forthwith to Berlin, and while he would continue his journey
to Wesel, to hasten to the capital for the purpose of informing you,
gentlemen, that the king will join the coalition, and of settling with
you the particulars--”
At this moment the door of the reception-room was hastily opened, and
the first secretary of the minister made his appearance.
“Pardon me, your excellency, for disturbing you,” he said, handing a
sealed letter to the count, “but a courier has just arrived from the
king’s headquarters with an autograph letter from his majesty. He had
orders to deliver this letter immediately to your excellency, because it
contained intelligence of the highest importance.”
“Tell the courier that the orders of his majesty have been carried out,”
said Count Haugwitz; “and you, gentlemen, I am sure you will permit me
to open this letter from my king in your presence. It may contain some
important particulars in relation to our new alliance.”
The two gentlemen assured him of their consent, and Count Haugwitz
opened the letter. When he commenced reading it, his face was as
unruffled as ever, but his features gradually assumed a graver
expression, and the smile disappeared from his lips.
The two ambassadors, who were closely watching the count’s countenance,
could not fail to notice this rapid change in his features, and their
faces now assumed likewise a gloomier air.
Count Haugwitz, however, seemed unable to master the contents of the
royal letter; he constantly read it anew, as though he were seeking in
its words for a hidden and mysterious meaning. He was so absorbed in the
perusal of the letter that he had apparently become entirely oblivious
of the presence of the two gentlemen, until a slight coughing of the
English ambassador aroused him from his musing.
“Pardon me, gentlemen,” he said, hastily, and in evident embarrassment;
“this letter contains some intelligence which greatly astonishes me.”
“I hope it will not interfere with the accession of Prussia to the
coalition?” said Panin, fixing his eyes upon the countenance of the
minister.
“Not at all,” said Count Haugwitz, quickly and smilingly. “The
extraordinary news is this: his majesty the king will reach Berlin
within this hour, and orders me to repair to him at once.”
“The king returns to Berlin!” exclaimed Count Panin.
“And did not your excellency tell us just now that the king had set out
for Wesel?” asked Lord Grenville, with his usual stoical equanimity.
“I informed you, gentlemen, of what occurred two weeks ago,” said Count
Haugwitz, shrugging his shoulders.
“What! Two weeks ago? Nevertheless, your excellency has just arrived at
Berlin, and are wearing yet your travelling-habit?”
“That is very true. I left Minden two weeks ago, but the impassable
condition of the roads compelled me to travel with snail-like slowness.
My carriage every day stuck in an ocean of mire, so that I had to send
for men from the adjoining villages in order to set it going again. The
axle-tree broke twice, and I was obliged to remain several day in the
most forsaken little country towns until I succeeded in getting my
carriage repaired.”
“The king seems to have found better roads,” said Count Panin, with a
lurking glance. “The journey to Wesel has been a very rapid one, at all
events.”
“The king, it seems, has given up that journey and concluded on the
road to return to the capital,” said Count Haugwitz, in an embarrassed
manner.
“It would be very deplorable if the king should as rapidly change his
mind in relation to his other resolutions!” exclaimed Lord Grenville.
“Your excellency does not fear, then, lest this sudden return of the
king should have any connection with our plans?” asked Panin. “The king
has authorized you to negotiate with the English ambassador, Sir Thomas
Grenville, and with myself, the representative of the Emperor Paul,
of Russia, about forming an alliance for the purpose of driving the
rapacious, revolutionary, and bloodthirsty French Republic beyond the
Rhine, and restoring tranquillity to menaced Europe?”
“It is true the king gave me such authority two weeks ago,” said Count
Haugwitz, uneasily, “and I doubt not for a single moment that his
majesty is now adhering to this opinion. But you comprehend, gentlemen,
that I must now hasten to wait on the returning king, in order to
receive further instructions from him.”
“That means, Count Haugwitz, that you have invited us to call on you in
order to tell us that we may go again?” asked Panin, frowning.
“I am in despair, gentlemen, at this unfortunate coincidence,” said
Count Haugwitz, anxiously. “It is, however, impossible for me now
to enter into further explanations. I must repair immediately to the
palace, and I humbly beg your pardon for this unexpected interruption of
our conference.”
“I accept your apology as sincerely as it was offered, and have the
honor to bid you farewell,” said Panin, bowing and turning toward the
door.
Count Haugwitz hastened to accompany him. When he arrived at the door,
and was about to leave the room, Count Panin turned around once more.
“Count Haugwitz,” he said, in a blunt voice, “be kind enough to call the
attention of the king to the fact that my imperial master, who is very
fond of resolute men and measures, prefers an open and resolute enemy to
a neutral and irresolute friend. He who wants to be no one’s enemy and
everybody’s friend, will soon find out that he has no friends whatever,
and that no one thanks him for not committing himself in any direction.
It is better after all to have a neighbor with whom we are living in
open enmity, than one on whose assistance we are never able to depend,
and who, whenever we are at war with a third power, contents himself
with doing nothing at all and assisting no one. Be kind enough to say
that to his majesty.”
He bowed haughtily, and entered the anteroom with a sullen face.
Count Haugwitz turned around and met the stern, cold glance of the
English ambassador, who was also approaching the door with slow and
measured steps.
“Count Haugwitz,” said Lord Grenville quietly, “I have the honor to
tell you that, in case the King of Prussia will not now, distinctly and
unmistakably, declare his intention of joining the coalition between
Russia, Austria, and England, we shall use the subsidies we had promised
to pay to Prussia for an army of twenty-five thousand men, in some other
way. Besides, I beg you to remind his majesty of the words of his great
ancestor, the Elector Frederick William. That brave and great sovereign
said: ‘I have learned already what it means to be neutral. One may have
obtained the best terms, and, in spite of them, will be badly treated.
Hence I have sworn never to be neutral again, and it would hurt my
conscience to act in a different manner.’ [Footnote: Hausser’s “History
of Germany,” vol. ii., p. 281.] I have the honor, count, to bid you
farewell.”
And Lord Grenville passed the count with a stiff bow, and disappeared in
the door of the anteroom.
Count Haugwitz heaved a profound sigh, and wiped off the perspiration
pearling in large drops on his brow. He then took the king’s letter
from his side-pocket and perused it once more. “It is the king’s
handwriting,” he said, shaking his head, “and it is also his peculiar
laconic style.” And, as if to satisfy himself by hearing the contents of
the letter, he read aloud:
“Do not enter into any negotiations with the ambassadors of Russia and
Great Britain. We will hold another council of war. I am on my way to
Berlin. Within an hour after receipt of these lines, I shall expect to
see you in my cabinet. Yours, affectionately,”
“Frederick William.”
“Yes, yes, the king has written that,” said Haugwitz, folding the
letter; “I must hastily dress, therefore, and repair to the palace. I am
anxious to know whence this new wind is blowing, and who has succeeded
in persuading the king to change his mind. Should my old friend,
Kockeritz, after all, be favorable to France? It would have been better
for him to inform me confidentially, and we might have easily agreed;
for I am by no means hostile to France, and I am quite ready to vote
for peace, if there be a chance to maintain it. Or should the young king
really have come to this conclusion without being influenced by anybody?
Why, that would be a dangerous innovation! We should take quick and
decisive steps against it. Well, we will see! I will go and dress.”