Led by fond hopes,--and driven also by that sad fear, of a Visit from
his Britannic Majesty,--the poor Kaiser, in the rear of those late
Seckendorf successes, quitted Frankfurt, April 17th; and the second day
after, got to Munchen. Saw himself in Munchen again, after a space of
more than two years; "all ranks of people crowding out to welcome him;"
the joy of all people, for themselves and for him, being very great.
Next day he drove out to Nymphenburg; saw the Pandour devastations
there,--might have seen the window where the rugged old Unertl set up
his ladder, "For God's sake, your Serenity, have nothing to do with
those French!"--and did not want for sorrowful comparisons of past and
present.
It was remarked, he quitted Munchen in a day or two; preferring Country
Palaces still unruined,--for example, Wolnzach, a Schloss he has, some
fifty miles off, down the Iser Valley, not far from the little Town of
Mosburg; which, at any rate, is among the Broglio-Seckendorf posts, and
convenient for business. Broglio and Seckendorf lie dotted all about,
from Braunau up to Ingolstadt and farther; chiefly in the Iser and Inn
Valleys, but on the north side of the Donau too; over an area, say of
2,000 square miles; Seckendorf preaching incessantly to Broglio, what
is sun-clear to all eyes but Broglio's, "Let us concentrate, M. le
Marechal; let us march and attack! If Prince Karl come upon us in this
scattered posture, what are we to do?" Broglio continuing deaf; Broglio
answering--in a way to drive one frantic.
The Kaiser himself takes Broglio in hand; has a scene with Broglio;
which, to readers that study it, may be symbolical of much that is gone
and that is coming. It fell "about the middle of May" (prior to May
17th, as readers will guess before long); and here, according to report,
was the somewhat explosive finale it had. Prince Conti, the same who ran
to join Maillebois, and has proved a gallant fellow and got command of a
Division, attends Broglio in this important interview at Wolnzach:--
SCHLOSS OF WOLNZACH, MAY, 1743.... "The Kaiser pressed, in the most
emphatic manner, That the Two Armies [French and Bavarian] should
collect and unite for immediate action. To which Broglio declared he
could by no means assent, not having any order from Paris of that
tenor. The Kaiser thereupon: 'I give you my order for it; I, by the Most
Christian King's appointment, am Commander-in-Chief of your Army, as of
my own; and I now order you!'--taking out his Patent, and spreading it
before Broglio with the sign-manual visible, Broglio knew the Patent
very well; but answered, 'That he could not, for all that, follow the
wish of his Imperial Majesty; that he, Broglio, had later orders, and
must obey them!' Upon which the Imperial Majesty, nature irrepressibly
asserting itself, towered into Olympian height; flung his Patent on the
table, telling Conti and Broglio, 'You can send that back, then; Patents
like that are of no service to me!' and quitted them in a blaze."
[Adelung, iii. B, 150; cites ETTAT POLITIQUE (Annual Register of
those times), xiii. 16. Nothing of this scene in _Campagnes,_ which is
officially careful to suppress the like of this.]
The indisputable fact is, Prince Karl is at the door; nay he has beaten
in the door in a frightful manner; and has Braunau, key of the Inn,
again under siege. Not we getting Passau; it is he getting Braunau! A
week ago (9th May) his vanguard, on the sudden, cut to pieces our poor
Bavarian 8,000, and their poor Minuzzi, who were covering Braunau, and
has ended him and them;--Minuzzi himself prisoner, not to be heard of or
beaten more;--and is battering Braunau ever since. That is the sad fact,
whatever the theory may have been. Prince Karl is rolling in from
the east; Lobkowitz (Prag now ended) is advancing from the northward,
Khevenhuller from the Salzburg southern quarter: Is it in a sprinkle of
disconnected fractions that you will wait Prince Karl? The question of
uniting, and advancing, ought to be a simple one for Broglio. Take
this other symbolic passage, of nearly the same date;--posterior, as we
guessed, to that Interview at Wolnzach.
"DINGELFINGEN, 17th MAY, 1743. At Dingelfingen on the Iser, a strongish
central post of the French, about fifty miles farther down than that
Schloss of Wolnzach, there is a second argument,--much corroborative
of the Kaiser's reasoning. About sunrise of the 17th, the Austrians, in
sufficient force, chiefly of Pandours, appeared on the heights to the
south: they had been foreseen the night before; but the French covering
General, luckier than Minuzzi, did not wait for them; only warned
Dingelfingen, and withdrew across the River, to wait there on the safe
left bank. Leader of the Austrians was one Leopold Graf von Daun, active
man of thirty-five, already of good rank, who will be much heard of
afterwards; Commandant in Dingelfingen is a Brigadier du Chatelet,
Marquis du Chatelet-Lamont; whom--after search (in the interest of some
idle readers)--I discover to be no other than the Husband of a certain
Algebraic Lady! Identity made out, mark what a pass he is at. Count
Daun comes on in a tempest of furious fire; 'very heavy,' they say,
from great guns and small; till close upon the place, when he summons
Du Chatelet: 'No;' and thereupon attempts scalade. Cannot scalade, Du
Chatelet and his people being mettlesome; takes then to flinging
shells, to burning the suburbs; Town itself catches fire,--Town plainly
indefensible. 'Truce for one hour' proposes Du Chatelet (wishful to
consult the covering General across the River): 'No,' answers Daun. So
that Du Chatelet has to jumble and wriggle himself out of the place;
courageous to the last; but not in a very Parthian fashion,--great
difficulty to get his bridge ruined (very partially ruined), behind
him;--and joins the covering General, in a flustery singed condition!
Were not pursued farther by Daun:--and Prince Conti, Head General in
those parts, called it a fine defence, on examining." [_Campagnes,_
viii. 239; Espagnac, i. 187; Hormayr, iv. 82, 85.] Espagnac continues:--
"On the 19th," after one rest-day, "Graf von Daun set out for Landau
[still on the Iser, farther down; Baiern has ITS "Landau" too, and
its "Landshut," both on this River], to seize Landau; which is another
French place of strength. The Garrison defended themselves for some
time; after which they retired over the River [left bank, or wrong side
of the Iser, they too]; and set fire to the Bridge behind them. The fire
of the Bridge caught the Town; Pandours helping it, as our people said;
and Landau also was reduced to ashes."--Poor Landau, poor Dingelfingen,
they cannot have the benefit of Louis XV.'s talent for governing
Germany, quite gratis, it would appear!
But where are the divine Emilie and Voltaire, that morning, while the
Brigadier is in such taking? Sitting safe in "that dainty little palace
of Madame's (PETIT PALAIS) at the point of the Isle de St. Louis,"
intent on quite other adventures; disgusted with the slavish Forty and
their methods of Election (of which by and by); and little thinking of
M. le Brigadier and the dangers of war.--Prince de Conti praised the
Brigadier's defence: but very soon, alas,--
DEGGENDORF, 27th MAY. "Prince de Conti, at Deggendorf [other or north
bank of the Donau, Head-quarters of Conti, which was thought to be well
secured by batteries and defences on the steep heights to landward], was
himself suddenly attacked, the tenth day hence, 'May 27th, at daybreak,'
in a still more furious manner; and was tumbled out of Deggendorf amid
whirlwinds of fire, in very flamy condition indeed. The Austrians,
playing on us from the uplands with their heavy artillery, made a breach
in our outmost battery: 'Not tenable!' exclaimed the Captain there:
'This way, my men!'--and withdrew, like a shot, he and party; sliding
down the steep face of the mountain [feet foremost, I hope], home to
Deggendorf in this peculiar manner; leaving the AUSTRIANS to manage his
guns. Our two lower batteries, ruled by this upper one, had now to be
abandoned; and Conti ran, Bridge of the Town-ditch breaking under
him; baggages, even to his own portmanteaus, all lost; and had a
neck-and-neck race of it in getting to his Donau-Bridge, and across to
the safe side. With loss of everything, we say,--personal baggage all
included; which latter item, Prince Karl politely returned him next
day." [Espagnac, p. 188.]
Broglio, with Prince Karl in his bowels going at such a rate, may judge
now whether it was wise to lie in that loose posture, scattered over two
thousand square miles, and snort on his judicious Seckendorf's advices
and urgencies as he did! Readers anticipate the issue; and shall not
be wearied farther with detail. There are, as we said, Three Austrian
Armies pressing on this luckless Bavaria and its French Protectors:
Khevenhuller, from Salzburg and the southern quarter, pushing in his
Dauns; Lobkowitz, hanging over us from the Ober-Pfalz (Naab-River
Country) on the north; and Prince Karl, on one or sometimes on both
sides of the Donau, pricking sharply into the rear of us; saying, by
bayonets, burnt bridges, bomb-shells, "Off; swift; it will be better for
you!" And Broglio has lost head, a mere whirlwind of flaming gases;
and your ablest Comte de Saxe in such position, what can he do? Broglio
writes to Versailles, That there will be no continuing in Bavaria; that
he recommends an order to march homewards;--much to the surprise of
Versailles.
"The Court of Versailles was much astonished at the message it got from
Broglio; Court of Versailles had always calculated that Broglio could
keep Bavaria; and had gone into extensive measures for maintaining
him there. Experienced old Marechal de Noailles has a new French Army,
70,000 or more, assembled in the Upper Rhine for that and the cognate
objects [of whom, more specially, anon]: Noailles, by order from Court,
has detached 12,000, who are now marching their best, to reinforce
Broglio;--and indeed the Court 'had already appointed the Generals and
Staff-Officers for Broglio's Bavarian Army,' and gratified many men by
promotions, which now went to smoke! [Espagnac, i. 190.]
"Versailles, however, has to expedite the order: 'Come home, then.'
Order or no order, Broglio's posts are all crackling off again, bursting
aloft like a chain of powder-mines; Broglio is plunging head foremost,
towards Donauworth, towards Ingolstadt, his place of arms; Seckendorf
now welcome to join him, but unable to do anything when joined.
Blustering Broglio has no steadfastness of mind; explodes like an
inflammable body, in this crackling off of the posts, and becomes a
mere whirlwind of flaming gases. Old snuffling Seckendorf, born to ill
success in his old days, strong only in caution, how is he to quench or
stay this crackling of the posts? Broglio blusters, reproaches, bullies;
Seckendorf quarrels with him outright, as he may well do: 'JARNI-BLEU,
such a delirious whirlwind of a Marechal; mere bickering flames and
soot!'--and looks out chiefly to keep his own skin and that of his poor
Bavarians whole.
"The unhappy Kaiser has run from Munchen again, to Augsburg for some
brief shelter; cannot stay there either, in the circumstances. Will
he have to hurry back to Frankfurt, to bankruptcy and furnished
lodgings,--nay to the Britannic Majesty's tender mercies, whose Army
is now actually there? Those indignant prophesyings to Broglio, at the
Schloss of Wolnzach, have so soon come true! And Broglio and the French
are--what a staff to lean upon! Enough, the poor Kaiser, after doleful
'Council of War held at Augsburg, June 25th,' does on the morrow make
off for Frankfurt again:--whither else? Britannic Majesty's intentions,
friends tell him, friend Wilhelm of Hessen tells him, are magnanimous;
eager for Peace to Teutschland; hostile only to the French. Poor Karl
took the road, June 26th;--and will find news on his arrival, or before
it.
"On which same day, 26th of June, as it chances, Broglio too has made
his packages; left a garrison in Ingolstadt, garrison in Eger; and is
ferrying across at Donauworth,--will see the Marlborough Schellenberg as
he passes,--in full speed for the Rhine Countries, and the finis of
this bad Business. [Adelung, iii. B. 152.] On the road, I believe at
Donauworth itself, Noailles's 12,000, little foreseeing these retrograde
events, met Broglio: 'Right about, you too!' orders Broglio; and speeds
Rhineward not the less. And the same day of that ferrying at Donauworth,
and of the Kaiser's setting out for Frankfurt, Seckendorf,--at
Nieder-Schonfeld [an old Monastery near the Town of Rain, in those
parts], the Kaiser being now safe away,--is making terms for himself
with Khevenhuller and Prince Karl: 'Will lie quiet as mere REICHS-Army,
almost as Troops of the Swabian Circle, over at Wembdingen there, in
said circle, and be strictly neutral, if we can but get lived at all!'
[Ib. iii. B, 153.] Seckendorf concludes on the morrow, 27th June;--which
is elsewhere a memorable Day of Battle, as will be seen.
"Broglio marched in Five Divisions [Du Chatelet in the Second Division,
poor soul, which was led by Comte de Saxe]: [Espagnac, i. 198.] always
in Five Divisions, swiftly, half a march apart; through the Wurtemberg
Country;--lost much baggage, many stragglers; Tolpatcheries in multitude
continually pricking at the skirts of him; Prince Karl following
steadily, Rhine-wards also, a few marches behind. Here are omens to
return with! 'But have you seen a retreat better managed?' thinks
Broglio to himself:" that is one consoling circumstance.
In this manner, then, has the Problem of Bavaria solved itself.
Hungarian Majesty, in these weeks, was getting crowned in Prag; "Queen
of Bohemia, I, not you; in the sight of Heaven and of Earth!" [Crowned
12th May, 1743 (Adelung, iii. B, 128); "news of Prince Karl's having
taken Braunau [incipiency of all these successes] had reached her that
very morning."]--and was purifying her Bohemia: with some rigor (it is
said), from foreign defacements, treasonous compliances and the like,
which there had been. To see your Bavarian Kaiser, false King of
Bohemia, your Broglio with his French, and the Bohemian-Bavarian
Question in whole, all rolling Rhine-wards at their swiftest, with
Prince Karl sticking in the skirts of them:--what a satisfaction to that
high Lady!
BRITANNIC MAJESTY, WITH SWORD ACTUALLY DRAWN, HAS MARCHED MEANWHILE
TO THE FRANKFURT COUNTRIES, AS "PRAGMATIC ARMY;" READY FOR BATTLE AND
TREATY ALIKE.
Add to which fine set of results, simultaneously with them: His
Britannic Majesty, third effort successful, has got his sword drawn,
fairly out at last; and in the air is making horrid circles with
it, ever since March last; nay does, he flatters himself, a very
considerable slash with it, in this current month of June. Of which,
though loath, we must now take some notice.
The fact is, though Stair could not hoist the Dutch, and our
double-quick Britannic heroism had to drop dead in consequence, Carteret
has done it: Carteret himself rushed over in that crisis, a fiery
emphatic man and chief minister, [Arrived at the Hague "5th October,
1742" (Adelung, iii. A, 294).]--"eager to please his Master's humor!"
said enemies. Yes, doubtless; but acting on his own turbid belief withal
(says fact); and revolving big thoughts in his head, about bringing
Friedrich over to the Cause of Liberty, giving French Ambition a
lesson for once, and the like. Carteret strongly pulleying, "All hands,
heave-oh!"--and, no doubt, those Maillebois-Broglio events from Prag
assisting him,--did bring the High Mightinesses to their legs; still in
a staggering splay-footed posture, but trying to steady themselves. That
is to say, the High Mightinesses did agree to go with us in the Cause of
Liberty; will now pay actual Subsidies to her Hungarian Majesty (at the
rate of two for our three); and will add, so soon as humanly possible,
20,000 men to those wind-bound 40,000 of ours;--which latter shall now
therefore, at once, as "Pragmatic Army" (that is the term fixed on),
get on march, Frankfurt way; and strike home upon the French and other
enemies of Pragmatic Sanction. This is what Noailles has been looking
for, this good while, and diligently adjusting himself, in those
Middle-Rhine Countries, to give account of.
Pragmatic Army lifted itself accordingly,--Stair, and the most of
his English, from Ghent, where the wearisome Head-quarters had been;
Hanoverians, Hessians, from we will forget where;--and in various
streaks and streams, certain Austrians from Luxemburg (with our old
friend Neipperg in company) having joined them, are flowing Rhine-ward
ever since March 1st. ["February 18th," o.s. (Old Newspapers).] They
cross the Rhine at three suitable points; whence, by the north bank,
home upon Frankfurt Country, and the Noailles-Broglio operations in
those parts. The English crossed "at Neuwied, in the end of April" (if
anybody is curious); "Lord Stair in person superintending them." Lord
Stair has been much about, and a most busy person; General-in-Chief of
the Pragmatic Army till his Britannic Majesty arrive. Generalissimo Lord
Stair; and there is General Clayton, General Ligonier, "General Heywood
left with the Reserve at Brussels:"--and, from the ashes of the
Old Newspapers, the main stages and particulars of this surprising
Expedition (England marching as Pragmatic Army into distant parts)
can be riddled out; though they require mostly to be flung in again.
Shocking weather on the march, mere Boreas and icy tempests; snow in
some places two feet deep; Rhine much swollen, when we come to it.
The Austrian Chief General--who lies about Wiesbaden, and consults with
Stair, while the English are crossing--is Duke d'Ahremberg (Father of
the Prince de Ligne, or "Prince of Coxcombs" as some call him): little
or nothing of military skill in D'Ahremberg; but Neipperg is thought
to have given much counsel, such as it was. With the Hessians there was
some difficulty; hesitation on Landgraf Wilhelm's part; who pities the
poor Kaiser, and would fain see him back at Frankfurt, and awaken the
Britannic magnanimities for him. "To Frankfurt, say you? We cannot fight
against the Kaiser!"--and they had to be left behind, for some time; but
at length did come on, though late for business, as it chanced. General
of these Hessians is Prince George of Hessen, worthy stout gentleman,
whom Wilhelmina met at the Frankfurt Gayeties lately. George's elder
Brother Wilhelm is Manager or Vice-Landgraf, this long while back;
and in seven or eight years hence became, as had been expected, actual
Landgraf (old King of Sweden dying childless);--of which Wilhelm we
shall have to hear, at Hanau (a Town of his in those parts), and perhaps
slightly elsewhere, in the course of this business. A fat, just man, he
too; probably somewhat iracund; not without troubles in his House.
His eldest Son, Heir-Apparent of Hessen, let me remind readers, has an
English Princess to Wife; Princess Mary, King George's Daughter, wedded
two years ago. That, added to the Subsidies, is surely a point of
union;--though again there may such discrepancies rise! A good while
after this, the eldest Son becoming Catholic (foolish wretch), to the
horror of Papa,--there rose still other noises in the world, about
Hessen and its Landgraves. Of good Prince George, who doubtless attended
in War Councils, but probably said little, we hope to hear nothing more
whatever.
From Neuwied to Frankfurt is but a few days' march for the Pragmatic
Army; in a direct line, not sixty miles. Frankfurt itself, which is a
REICHS-STADT (Imperial City), they must not enter: "Fear not, City or
Country!" writes Stair to it: "We come as saviors, pacificators, hostile
to your enemies and disturbers only; we understand discipline and the
Laws of the Reich, and will pay for everything." [Letter itself, of
brief magnanimous strain, in _Campagnes de Noailles,_ i. 127; date
"Neuwied, 26th April, 1743" (Adelung, iii. B, 114).] For the rest, they
are in no hurry. They linger in that Frankfurt-Mainz region, all through
the month of May; not unobservant of Noailles and his movements, if he
made any; but occupied chiefly with gathering provisions; forming, with
difficulty, a Magazine in Hanau. "What they intended: or intend, by
coming hither?" asks the Public everywhere: "To go into the Donau
Countries, and enclose Broglio between two fires?" That had been,
and was still, Stair's fine idea; but D'Ahremberg had disapproved the
methods. D'Ahremberg, it seems, is rather given to opposing Stair;--and
there rise uncertainties, in this Pragmatic Army: certain only hitherto
the Magazine in Hanau. And in secret, it afterwards appeared, the
immediate real errand of this Pragmatic Army had lain--in the Chapter of
Mainz Cathedral, and an Election that was going on there.
The old Kur-Mainz, namely, had just died; and there was a new "Chief
Spiritual Kurfurst" to be elected by the Canons there. Kur-Mainz is
Chairman of the Reich, an important personage, analogous to Speaker of
the House of Commons; and ought to be,--by no means the Kaiser's young
Brother, as the French and Kaiser are proposing; but a man with Austrian
leanings;--say, Graf von Ostein, titular DOM-CUSTOS (Cathedral Keeper)
here; lately Ambassador in London, and known in select society for what
he is. Not much of an Archbishop, of a Spiritual or Chief Spiritual Herr
hitherto; but capable of being made one,--were the Pragmatic Army at his
elbow! It was on this errand that the Pragmatic Army had come hither,
or come so early, and with their plans still unripe. And truly they
succeeded; got their Ostein chosen to their mind: ["21st March, 1743,"
Mainz vacant; "22d April," Ostein elected (Adelung, iii. B, 113, 121).]
a new Kur-Mainz,--whose leanings and procedures were very manifest in
the sequel, and some of them important before long. This was always
reckoned one result of his Britannic Majesty's Pragmatic Campaign;--and
truly some think it was, in strict arithmetic, the only one, though that
is far from his Majesty's own opinion.
FRIEDRICH HAS OBJECTIONS TO THE PRAGMATIC ARMY; BUT IN VAIN. OF
FRIEDRICH'S MANY ENDEAVORS TO QUENCH THIS WAR, BY "UNION OF INDEPENDENT
GERMAN PRINCES," BY "MEDIATION OF THE REICH," AND OTHERWISE; ALL IN
VAIN.
Friedrich, at an early stage, had inquired of his Britannic Majesty,
politely but with emphasis, "What in the world he meant, then, by
invading the German Reich; leading foreign Armies into the Reich: in
this unauthorized manner?" To which the Britannic Majesty had answered,
with what vague argument of words we will not ask, but with a look
that we can fancy,--look that would split a pitcher, as the Irish say!
Friedrich persisted to call it an Invasion of the German Reich; and
spoke, at first, of flatly opposing it by a Reich's Army (30,000, or
even 50,000, for Brandenburg's contingent, in such case); but as the
poor Reich took no notice, and the Britannic Majesty was positive,
Friedrich had to content himself with protest for the present.
[Friedrich's Remonstrance and George's Response are in _Adelung,_ iii.
B, 132 (date, "March, 1743"); date of Friedrich's first stirring in the
matter is "January, 1743," and earlier (ib. p. 37, p. 8, &c.).]
The exertions of Friedrich to bring about a Peace, or at least to
diminish, not increase, the disturbance, are forgotten now; wearisome
to think of, as they did not produce the smallest result; but they have
been incessant and zealous, as those of a man to quench the fire which
is still raging in his street, and from which he himself is just saved.
"Cannot the Reich be roused for settlement of this Bavarian-Austrian
quarrel?" thought Friedrich always. And spent a great deal of earnest
endeavor in that direction; wished a Reich's ARMY OF MEDIATION; "to
which I will myself furnish 30,000; 50,000, if needed." Reich, alas! The
Reich is a horse fallen down to die,--no use spurring at the Reich; it
cannot, for many months, on Friedrich's Proposal (though the question
was far from new, and "had been two years on hand"), come to the
decision, "Well then, yes; the Reich WILL try to moderate and mediate:"
and as for a Reich's Mediation-ARMY, or any practical step at all [The
question had been started, "in August, 1741," by the Kaiser himself;
"11th March, 1743," again urged by him, after Friedrich's offer; "10th
May, 1743," "Yes, then, we will try; but--" and the result continued
zero.]--!
"Is not Germany, are not all the German Princes, interested to have
Peace?" thinks Friedrich. "A union of the independent German Princes to
recommend Peace, and even with hand on sword-hilt to command it; that
would be the method of producing Treaty of Peace!" thinks he always. And
is greatly set on that method; which, we find, has been, and continues
to be, the soul of his many efforts in this matter. A fact to be
noted. Long poring in those mournful imbroglios of Dryasdust, where the
fraction of living and important welters overwhelmed by wildernesses of
the dead and nugatory, one at length disengages this fact; and readers
may take it along with them, for it proves illuminative of Friedrich's
procedures now and afterwards. A fixed notion of Friedrich's, this of
German Princes "uniting," when the common dangers become flagrant; a
very lively notion with him at present. He will himself cheerfully take
the lead in such Union, but he must not venture alone. [See Adelung,
iii. A and B, passim; Valori, i. 178; &c. &c.]
The Reich, when appealed to, with such degree of emphasis, in this
matter,--we see how the Reich has responded! Later on, Friedrich tried
"the Swabian Circle" (chief scene of these Austrian-Bavarian tusslings);
which has, like the other Circles, a kind of parliament, and pretends
to be a political unity of some sort. "Cannot the Swabian Circle,
or Swabian and Frankish joined (to which one might declare oneself
PROTECTOR, in such case), order their own Captains, with military force
of their own, say 20,000 men, to rank on the Frontier; and to inform
peremptorily all belligerents and tumultuous persons, French, Bavarian,
English, Austrian: 'No thoroughfare; we tell you, No admittance here!'"
Friedrich, disappointed of the Reich, had taken up that smaller notion:
and he spent a good deal of endeavor on that too,--of which we may
see some glimpse, as we proceed. But it proves all futile. The Swabian
Circle too is a moribund horse; all these horses dead or moribund.
Friedrich, of course, has thought much what kind of Peace could be
offered by a mediating party. The Kaiser has lost his Bavaria: yet he is
the Kaiser, and must have a living granted him as such. Compensations,
aspirations, claims of territory; these will be manifold! These are a
world of floating vapor, of greed, of anger, idle pretension: but within
all these there are the real necessities; what the case does require,
if it is ever to be settled! Friedrich discerns this Austrian-Bavarian
necessity of compensation; of new land to cut upon. And where is that to
come from!
In January last, Friedrich, intensely meditating this business, had
in private a bright-enough idea: That of secularizing those so-called
Sovereign Bishoprics, Austrian-Bavarian by locality and nature, Passau,
Salzburg, Regensburg, idle opulent territories, with functions absurd
not useful;--and of therefrom cutting compensation to right and to left.
This notion he, by obscure channels, put into the head of Baron von
Haslang, Bavarian Ambassador at London; where it germinated rapidly,
and came to fruit;--was officially submitted to Lord Carteret in his
own house, in two highly artistic forms, one evening;--and sets
the Diplomatic Heads all wagging upon it. [Adelung, iii. B, 84, 90,
"January-March, 1743."] With great hope, at one time; till rumor of it
got abroad into the Orthodox imagination, into the Gazetteer world; and
raised such a clamor, in those months, as seldom was. "Secularize, Hah!
One sees the devilish heathen spirit of you; and what kind of Kaiser, on
the religious side, we now have the happiness of having!" So that
Kaiser Karl had to deny utterly, "Never heard of such a thing!" Carteret
himself had, in politeness, to deny; much more, and for dire cause, had
Haslang himself, over the belly of facts, "Never in my dreams, I tell
you!"--and to get ambiguous certificate from Carteret, which the simple
could interpret to that effect. [Carteret's Letter (ibid. iii, B, 190).]
It was only in whispers that the name of Friedrich was connected with
this fine scheme; and all parties were glad to get it soon buried again.
A bright idea; but had come a century too soon. Of another Carteret
Negotiation with Kaiser Karl, famed as "Conferences of Hanau," which had
almost come to be a Treaty, but did not; and then, failing that, of
a famous Carteret "Treaty of Worms," which did come to perfection, in
these same localities shortly afterwards; and which were infinitely
interesting to our Friedrich, both the Treaty and the Failure of the
Treaty,--we propose to speak elsewhere, in due time.
As to Friedrich's own endeavors and industries, at Regensburg and
elsewhere, for effective mediation of Peace; for the Reich to mediate,
and have "Army of Mediation;" for a "Union of Swabian Circles" to do it;
for this and then for that to do it;--as to Friedrich's own efforts and
strugglings that way, in all likely and in some unlikely quarters,--they
were, and continued to be, earnest, incessant; but without result. Like
the spurring of horses really DEAD some time ago! Of which no reader
wishes the details, though the fact has to be remembered. And so, with
slight indication for Friedrich's sake,--being intent on the stage of
events,--we must leave that shadowy hypothetic region, as a wood in
the background; the much foliage and many twigs and boughs of which do
authentically TAKE the trouble to be there, though we have to paint it
in this summary manner.