Britannic Majesty, I know not at what date, but before the launching of
that poor Braddock thunder-bolt, much more after the tragic explosion it
made, had felt that French War was nearly inevitable, and also that the
French method would be, as heretofore, to attack Hanover, and wound
him in that tender part. There goes on, accordingly, a lively Foreign
Diplomatizing, on his Majesty's part, at present,--in defect, almost
total, of Domestic Preparation, military and other;--Majesty and
Ministers expecting salvation from abroad, as usual. Military
preparation does lag at a shameful rate: but, on the other hand,
there is a great deal of pondering, really industrious considering and
contriving, about Foreign Allies, and their subsidies and engagements.
That step, for example, the questionable Seizure of the French Ships
WITHOUT Declaration of War, was a contrivance by diplomatic Heads (of
bad quality): "Seize their ships," said some bad Head, after meditating;
"put their ships in SEQUESTRATION, till they do us justice. If they
won't, and go to War,--then THEY are the Aggressors, not we; and our
Allies have to send their auxiliary quotas, as per contract!" So the
Ships were seized; held in sequestration, "till many of the cargoes
(being perishable goods, some even fish) rotted." [Smollett's _History
of England; _&c. &c.] And in return, as will be seen, not one auxiliary
came to hand: so that the diplomatic Head had his rotted cargoes, and
much public obloquy, for his pains. Not a fortunate stroke of business,
that!--
Britannic Majesty, on applying at Vienna (through Keith, Sir or Mr.
Robert Keith, the FIRST Excellency of that name, for there are two, a
father and a son, both Vienna Excellencies), was astonished to learn
That, in such event of an Aggression, even on Hanover, there was no
co-operation to be looked for here. Altogether cold on that subject, her
Imperial Majesty seems; regardless of Excellency Keith's remonstrances
and urgencies; and, in the end, is flatly negatory: "Cannot do it, your
Excellency; times so perilous, bad King of Prussia so minatory,"--not
to mention, SOTTO VOCE that we have turned on our axis, and the wind
(thanks to Kaunitz) no longer hits us on the same cheek as formerly!
"Cannot? Will not?" Britannic Majesty may well stare, wide-eyed;
remembering such gigantic Subsidizings and Alcides Labors, Dettingens,
Fontenoys, on the per-contra side. But so stands the fact: "No help from
an ungrateful Vienna;--quick, then, seek elsewhere!" And Hanbury and the
Continental British Excellencies have to bestir themselves as they never
did. Especially Hanbury; who is directed upon Russia,--whom alone of
these Excellencies it is worth while to follow for a moment. Russia,
on fair subsidy, yielded us a 35,000 last War (willingly granted, most
useful, though we had no fighting out of them, mere terror of them being
enough): beyond all things, let Hanbury do his best in Russia!
Hanbury, cheerfully confident, provides himself with the requisites,
store of bribe-money as the chief;--at Warsaw withal, he picks up one
Poniatowski (airy sentimental coxcomb, rather of dissolute habits,
handsomest and windiest of young Polacks): "Good for a Lover to the
Grand-Duchess, this one!" thinks Hanbury. Which proved true, and had its
uses for Hanbury;--Grand-Duchess and Grand-Duke (Catherine and Peter,
whom we saw wedded twelve years ago, Heirs-Apparent of this Russian
Chaos) being an abstrusely situated pair of Spouses; well capable of
something political, in private ways, in such a scene of affairs; and
Catherine, who is an extremely clever creature, being out of a lover
just now. A fine scene for the Diplomatist, this Russia at present.
Nowhere in the world can you do so much with bribery; quite a standing
item, and financial necessary-of-life to Officials of the highest rank
there, as Hanbury well knows. [His Letters (in Raumer), PASSIM.] That
of Poniatowski proved, otherwise too, a notable stroke of Hanbury's; and
shot the poor Polish Coxcomb aloft into tragic altitudes, on the sudden,
as we all know!
Hanbury's immense dexterities, and incessant labors at Petersburg, shall
lie hidden in the slop-pails: it is enough to say, his guineas, his
dexterities and auxiliary Poniatowskis did prevail; and he triumphantly
signed his Treaty (Petersburg, 30th September) "Subsidy-Treaty for
55,000 men, 15,000 of them cavalry," not to speak of "40 to 50 galleys"
and the like; "to attack whomsoever Britannic Majesty bids: annual cost
a mere 500,000 pounds while on service; 100,000 pounds while waiting."
[In _Adelung,_ vii. 609.] And, what is more, and what our readers are to
mark, the 55,000 begin on the instant to assemble,--along the Livonian
Frontier or Lithuanian, looking direct into Preussen. Diligently
rendezvousing there; 55,000 of them, nay gradually 70,000; no stinginess
in the Czarina to her Ally of England. A most triumphant thing, thinks
Hanbury: Could another of you have done it? Signed, ready for ratifying,
30th September, 1755 (bad Braddock news not hindering);--and before it
is ratified (this also let readers mark), the actual Troops getting on
march.
Hanbury's masterpiece, surely; a glorious triumph in the circumstances,
and a difficult, thinks Hanbury. Had Hanbury seen the inside of the
cards, as readers have, he would not have thought it so triumphant. For
years past,--especially since that "Fundamental maxim, May 14th-15th,
1753," which we heard of,--the Czarina's longings had been fixed. And
here now--scattering money from both hands of it, and wooing us with
diplomatic finessings--is the Fulfilment come! "Opportunity" upon
Preussen; behold it here.
The Russian Senate again holds deliberation; declares (on the heel of
this Hanbury Treaty), "in October, 1755," what we read above, That its
Anti-Prussian intentions are--truculent indeed. And it is the common
talk in Petersburg society, through Winter, what a dose the ambitious
King of Prussia has got brewed for him, [MEMOIRE RAISONNE (in
_Gesammelte Nachrichten _), i. 429, &c.] out of Russian indignation
and resources, miraculously set afloat by English guineas. A triumphant
Hanbury, for the time being,--though a tragical enough by and by!
THE TRIUMPHANT HANBURY TREATY BECOMES, ITSELF, NOTHING OR LESS;--BUT
PRODUCES A FRIEDRICH TREATY, FOLLOWED BY RESULTS WHICH SURPRISE
EVERYBODY.
King Friedrich's outlooks, on this consummation, may well seem to him
critical. The sore longing of an infuriated Czarina is now let loose,
and in a condition to fulfil itself! To Friedrich these Petersburg news
are no secret; nor to him are the Petersburg private intentions a thing
that can be doubted. Apart from the Menzel-Weingarten revelations, as
we noticed once, it appears the Grand-Duke Peter (a great admirer
of Friedrich, poor confused soul) had himself thrice-secretly warned
Friedrich, That the mysterious Combination, Russia in the van, would
attack him next Spring;--"not Weingarten that betrayed our GRAND
MYSTERE; from first hand, that was done!" said Excellency Peubla,
on quitting Berlin not long after. [Cogniazzo, _Gestandnisse eines
OEsterreichischen Veterans _(as cited above), i. 225. "September 16th,
1756," Peubla left Berlin (Rodenbeck, i. 298),--three months after
Weingarten's disappearance.] The Grand Mystery is not uncertain to
Friedrich; and it may well be very formidable,--coupled with those
Braddock explosions, Seizures of French ships, and English-French War
imminent, and likely to become a general European one; which are the
closing prospects of 1755. The French King he reckons not to be well
disposed to him; their old Treaty of "twelve years" (since 1744) is just
about running out. Not friendly, the French King, owing to little rubs
that have been; still less the Pompadour;--though who could guess how
implacable she was at "not being known (NE LA CONNAIS PAS)"! At Vienna,
he is well aware, the humor towards him is mere cannibalism in refined
forms. But most perilous of all, most immediately perilous, is the
implacable Czarina, set afloat upon English guineas!
With a hope, as is credibly surmised, that the English might soothe or
muzzle this implacable Czarina, Friedrich, directly after Hanbury's feat
in Petersburg, applied at London, with an Offer which was very tempting
there: "Suppose your Britannic Majesty would make, with me, an express
'NEUTRALITY CONVENTION;' mutual Covenant to keep the German Reich
entirely free of this War now threatening to break out? To attack
jointly, and sweep home again with vigor, any and every Armed Non-German
setting foot on the German soil!" An offer most welcome to the Heads of
Opposition, the Pitts and others of that Country; who wish dear Hanover
safe enough (safe in Davy-Jones's locker, if that would do); but are
tired of subsidizing, and fighting and tumulting, all the world over,
for that high end. So that Friedrich's Proposal is grasped at; and after
a little manipulation, the thing is actually concluded.
By no means much manipulation, both parties being willing. There was
uncommonly rapid surgery of any little difficulties and discrepancies;
rapid closure, instant salutary stitching together of that long
unhealable Privateer Controversy, as the main item: "20,000 pounds
allowed to Prussia for Prussian damages; and to England, from the other
side, the remainder of Silesiau Debt, painfully outstanding for two
or three years back, is to be paid off at once;"--and in this way
such "NEUTRALITY CONVENTION OF PRUSSIA WITH ENGLAND" comes forth as a
Practical Fact upon mankind. Done at Westminster, 16th January, 1756.
The stepping-stone, as it proved, to a closer Treaty of the same date
next Year; of which we shall hear a great deal. The stepping-stone,
in fact, to many large things;--and to the ruin of our late
"Russian-Subsidy Treaty" (Hanbury's masterpiece), for one small thing.
"That is a Treaty signed, sure enough," answer they of St. James's; "and
we will be handsome about it to her Czarish Majesty; but as to RATIFYING
it, in its present form,--of course, never!"
What a clap of thunder to Excellency Hanbury; his masterpiece found
suddenly a superfluity, an incommodity! The Orthodox English course now
is, "No foreign soldiers at all to be allowed in Germany;" and there
are the 55,000 tramping on with such alacrity. "We cannot ratify that
Treaty, Excellency Hanbury," writes the Majesty's Ministry, in a tone
not of gratitude: "you must turn it some other way!" A terrible blow to
Hanbury, who had been expecting gratitude without end. And now, try how
he might, there was no turning it another way; this, privately, and
this only, being the Czarina's own way. A Czarina obstinate to a degree;
would not consent, even when they made her the liberal offer, "Keep your
55,000 at home; don't attack the King of Prussia with them; you shall
have your Subsidy all the same!" "No, I won't!" answered she,--to
Hanbury's amazement. Hanbury had not read the Weingarten-Menzel
Documents;--what double double of toil and trouble might Hanbury have
saved himself and others, could he have read them!
Hanbury could not, still less could the Majesty's Ministry, surmise the
Czarina's secret at all, now or for a good while coming. And in fact,
poor Hanbury, busy as a Diplomatic bee, never did more good in Russia,
or out of it. By direction of the Majesty's Ministry, Hanbury still
tried industriously, cash in both hands; tried various things: "Assuage
the Czarina's mind; reconcile her to King Friedrich;"--all in vain.
"Unite Austria, Russia and England, can't you, then?--in a Treaty
against the Designs of France:" how very vain! Then, at a later stage,
"Get us the Czarina to mediate between Prussia and Austria" (so
very possible to sleek them down into peace, thought Majesty's
Ministry):--and unwearied Hanbury, cunning eloquence on his lips, and
money in both hands, tries again, and ever again, for many months. And
in the way of making ropes from sand, it must be owned there never was
such twisting and untwisting, as that appointed Hanbury. Who in fact
broke his heart by it;--and died mad, by his own hand, before long.
[Hanbury's "Life" (in _Works, _vol. iii.) gives sad account.] Poor soul,
after all!--Here are some Russian Notices from him (and he has many
curious, not pertinent here), which are still worth gleaning.
PETERSBURG, 2d OCTOBER, 1755.... "The health of the Empress [Czarina
Elizabeth, CATIN DU NORD, age now forty-five] is bad. She is affected
with spitting of blood, shortness of breath, constant coughing, swelled
legs and water on the chest; yet she danced a minuet with me," lucky
Hanbury. "There is great fermentation at Court. Peter [Grand-Duke Peter]
does not conceal his enmity to the Schuwalofs [paramours of CATIN,
old and new]; Catherine [Grand-Duchess, who at length has an Heir,
unbeautiful Czar Paul that will be, and "miscarriages" not a few] is
on good terms with Bestuchef" (corruptiblest brute of a Chancellor ever
known, friend to England by England's giving him 10,000 pounds, and the
like trifles, pretty frequently; Friedrich's enemy, chiefly from defect
of that operation)--she is "on good terms with Bestuchef. I think it
my duty to inform the King [great George, who will draw his prognostics
from it] of my observations upon her; which I can the better do, as I
often have conversations with her for hours together, as at supper my
rank places me always next to her," twice-lucky Hanbury.
"Since her coming to this Country, she has, by every method in her
power, endeavored to gain the affections of the Nation: she applied
herself with diligence to study their language; and speaks it at
present, as the Russians tell me, in the greatest perfection. She has
also succeeded in her other aim; for she is esteemed and beloved here
in a high degree. Her person is very advantageous, and her manners very
captivating. She has great knowledge of this Empire; and makes it her
only study. She has parts; and Great-Chancellor [brute Bestuchef] tells
me that nobody has more steadiness and resolution. She has, of late,
openly declared herself to me in respect of the King of Prussia;"--hates
him a good deal, "natural and formidable enemy of Russia;" "heart
certainly the worst in the world [and so on; but will see better by and
by, having eyes of her own]:--she never mentions the King of England but
with the utmost respect and highest regard; is thoroughly sensible of
the utility of the union between England and Russia; always calls his
Majesty the Empress's best and greatest Ally [so much of nourishment in
him withal, as in a certain web-footed Chief of Birds, reckoned chief by
some]; and hopes he will also give his friendship and protection to the
Grand-Duke and herself.--As for the Grand-Duke, he is weak and violent;
but his confidence in the Grand-Duchess is so great, that sometimes he
tells people, that though he does not understand things himself, his
Wife understands everything. Should the Empress, as I fear, soon die,
the Government will quietly devolve on them." [Hanbury's Despatch,
"October 2d, 1755" (Raumer, pp. 223-225); Subsidy Treaty still at its
floweriest.]
Catherine's age is twenty-six gone; her Peter's twenty-seven: one of
the cleverest young Ladies in the world, and of the stoutest-hearted,
clearest-eyed;--yoked to a young Gentleman much the reverse. Thank
Hanbury for this glimpse of them, most intricately situated Pair; who
may concern us a little in the sequel.--And, in justice to poor Hanover,
the sad subject-matter of Excellency Hanbury's Problems and Futilities
in Russia and elsewhere, let us save this other Fraction by a very
different hand; and close that Hanbury scene:--
"Friedrich himself was so dangerous," says the Constitutional Historian
once: "Friedrich, in alliance with France, how easy for him to catch
Hanover by the throat at a week's notice, throw a death-noose round the
throat of poor Hanover, and hand the same to France for tightening
at discretion! Poor Hanover indeed; she reaps little profit from her
English honors: what has she had to do with these Transatlantic Colonies
of England? An unfortunate Country, if the English would but think;
liable to be strangled at any time, for England's quarrels: the
Achilles'-heel to invulnerable England; a sad function for Hanover,
if it be a proud one, and amazingly lucrative to some Hanoverians. The
Country is very dear to his Britannic Majesty in one sense, very dear to
Britain in another! Nay Germany itself, through Hanover, is to be torn
up by War for Transatlantic interests,--out of which she does not even
get good Virginia tobacco, but grows bad of her own. No more concern
than the Ring of Saturn with these over-sea quarrels; and can, through
Hanover, be torn to pieces by War about them. Such honor to give a King
to the British Nation, in a strait for one; and such profit coming of
it:--we hope all sides are grateful for the blessings received!"
THERE HAS BEEN A COUNTER-TREATY GOING ON AT VERSAILLES IN THE INTERIM;
WHICH HEREUPON STARTS OUT, AND TUMBLES THE WHOLLY ASTONISHED EUROPEAN
DIPLOMACIES HEELS-OVER-HEAD.
To expectant mankind, especially to Vienna and Versailles, this
Britannic-Prussian Treaty was a great surprise. And indeed it proved the
signal of a general System of New Treaties all round. The first
signal, in fact,--though by no means the first cause,--of a total
circumgyration, summerset, or tumble heels-over-head in the Political
relations of Europe altogether, which ensued thereupon; miraculous,
almost as the Earthquake at Lisbon, to the Gazetteer, and Diplomatic
mind, and incomprehensible for long years after. First signal we say, by
no means that it was the first cause, or indeed that it was a cause at
all,--the thing being determined elsewhere long before; ever since 1753,
when Kaunitz left it ready, waiting only its time.
Kaiser Franz, they say, when (probably during those Keith urgencies)
the joining with France and turning against poor Britannic Majesty
was proposed in Council at Vienna, opened his usually silent lips; and
opined with emphasis against such a course, no Kaunitz or creature able
to persuade Kaiser Franz that good would come of it;--though, finding
Sovereign Lady and everybody against him, he held his peace again. And
returned to his private banking operations, which were more extensive
than ever, from the new troubles rising. "Lent the Empress-Queen, always
on solid securities," says Friedrich, "large sums, from time to time, in
those Wars; dealt in Commissariat stores to right and left; we ourselves
had most of our meal from him this year." [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv.
8.] Kaiser Franz was, and continued, of the old way of thinking; but
consummate Kaunitz, and the High Lady's fixed passion for her Schlesien,
had changed everybody else. The ulterior facts are as follows,
abbreviated to the utmost.
September 22d, 1755, a few days before Hanbury's Subsidy-feat at
Petersburg, which took such a whirl for Hanbury, there had met for the
first time at Versailles, more especially at Babiole, Pleasure-House
of the Pompadour, a most Select Committee of Three Persons: Graf von
Stahremberg, Austrian Ambassador; Pompadour herself; and a certain
infinitely elegant Count and Reverence de Bernis (beautiful
Clerico-Mundane Gentleman, without right Benefice hitherto, but much
in esteem with the Pompadour);--for deepest practical consideration
in regard to closure of a French-Austrian Alliance. Reverend Count
(subsequently Cardinal) de Bernis has sense in Diplomacy; has his
experiences in Secular Diplomatic matters; a soft-going cautious man,
not yet official, but tending that way: whom the Pompadour has brought
with her as henchman, or unghostly counsellor, in this intricate
Adventure.
Stahremberg, instructed from home, has no hesitation; nor has Pompadour
herself, remembering that insolent "JE NE LA CONNAIS PAS," and the
per-contra "MA COUSINE," "PRINCESSE ET SOEUR:"--but Bernis, I suppose,
looks into the practical difficulties; which are probably very
considerable, to the Official French eye, in the present state of Europe
and of the public mind. From September 22d, or autumnal equinox, 1755,
onward to this Britannic-Prussian phenomenon of January, 1756,
the Pompadour Conclave has been sitting,--difficulties, no doubt,
considerable. I will give only the dates, having myself no interest in
such a Committee at Babiole; but the dates sufficiently betoken that
there were intricacies, conflicts between the new and the old. Hitherto
the axiom always was, "Prussia the Adjunct and Satellite of France:" now
to be entirely reversed, you say?
JULY, 1755, that is two months before this Babiole Committee met, a Duc
de Nivernois, respectable intelligent dilettante French Nobleman,
had been named as Ambassador to Friedrich, "Go, you respectable wise
Nivernois, Nobleman of Letters so called; try and retain Friedrich for
us, as usual!" And now, on meeting of the Babiole Committee, Nivernois
does not go; lingers, saddled and bridled, till the very end of the
Year; arrives in Berlin January 12th, 1756. Has his First
Audience January 14th; a man highly amiable to Friedrich; but with
proposals,--wonderful indeed.
The French, this good while back, are in no doubt about War with
England, a right hearty War; and have always expected to retain Prussia
as formerly,--though rather on singular terms. Some time ago, for
instance, M. de Rouille, War-Minister, requested Knyphausen, Prussian
Envoy at Paris: "Suggest to your King's Majesty what plunder there is at
Hanover. Perfectly at liberty to keep it all, if he will plunder Hanover
for us!" [_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 29.] Pleasant message to the proud
King; who answered with the due brevity, to the purport, "Silence,
Sir!"--with didactic effects on the surprised Rouille. Who now mends his
proposal; though again in a remarkable way. Instructs Nivernois, namely,
"To offer King Friedrich the Island of Tobago, if he will renew Treaty,
and take arms for us. Island of Tobago (a deserted, litigated, but
pretty Island, were it ever ours), will not that entice this King,
intent on Commerce?" Friedrich, who likes Nivernois and his polite ways,
answers quizzingly: "Island of Tobago? Island of Barataria your Lordship
must be meaning; Island of which I cannot be the Sancho Panza!" [Ib.
31.] And Nivernois found he must not mention Tobago again.
For the rest, Friedrich made no secret of his English Treaty; showed it
with all frankness to Nivernois, in all points: "Is there, can the most
captious allege that there is, anything against France in it. My one
wish and aim, that of Peace for myself: judge!" Nivernois stayed till
March; but seems to have had, of definite, only Tobago and good words;
so that nothing farther came of him, and there was no Renewal of
Treaty then or after. Thus, in his third month (March, 1756), practical
Nivernois was recalled, without result;--instead of whom fat Valori was
sent; privately intending "to do nothing but observe, in Berlin." From
all which, we infer that the Babiole Committee now saw land; and that
Bernis himself had decided in the affirmative: "Austria, not Prussia;
yes, Madame!" To the joy of Madame and everybody. For, it is incredible,
say all witnesses, what indignation broke out in Paris when Friedrich
made this new "defection," so they termed it; revolt from his Liege Lord
(who had been so exemplary to him on former occasions!), and would not
bite at Tobago when offered. So that the Babiole Committee went on,
henceforth, with flowing sea; and by Mayday (1st MAY, 1756) brought
out its French-Austrian Treaty in a completed state. "To stand by one
another," like Castor and Pollux, in a manner; "24,000, reciprocally,
to be ready on demand;" nay I think something of "subsidies" withal,--TO
Austria, of course. But the particulars are not worth giving; the
Performance, thanks to a zealous Pompadour, having quite outrun the
Stipulation, and left it practically out of sight, when the push came.
Our Constitutional Historian may shadow the rest:--
"France and England going to War in these sad circumstances, and France
and Austria being privately prepared [by Kaunitz and others] to swear
everlasting friendship on the occasion, instead of everlasting enmity
as heretofore; unexpected changes, miraculous to the Gazetteers, became
inevitable;--nothing less, in short, than explosion or topsy-turvying
of the old Diplomatic-Political Scheme of Europe. Old dance of
the Constellations flung heels-over-head on the sudden; and much
pirouetting, jigging, setting, before they could change partners, and
continue their august dance again, whether in War or Peace. No end to
the industrious wonder of the Gazetteer mind, to the dark difficulties
of the Diplomatic. What bafflings, agonistic shufflings, impotent
gazings into the dark; what seductive fiddling, and being fiddled to!
A most sad function of Humanity, if sometimes an inevitable one; which
ought surely at all times to be got over as briefly as possible. To be
written of, especially, with a maximum of brevity; human nature being
justly impatient of talk about it, beyond the strictly needful."
Most true it is, and was most miraculous, though now quite forgotten
again, Political Europe had to make a complete whirl-round on that
occasion. And not in a day, and merely saying to itself, "Let me do
summerset!" as idle readers suppose,--but with long months of agonistic
shuffle and struggle in all places, and such Diplomatic fiddling and
being fiddled to, as seldom was before. Of which, these two instances,
the Bernis and the Hanbury, are to serve as specimen; two and no more:
a universe of extinct fiddling compressed into two nutshells, if readers
have an ear.