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).
"POTSDAM, 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):--[not in original]--
"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.
He 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 bovine 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!