The Family I am descended from was originally of _Thuringia_. My
Grandfather, after having turn’d Protestant, came and settled in the
Electorate of _Brandenburg_, where he was kindly receiv’d, and advanc’d to
the chief Employments by the Elector _Frederic-William_, who made him
Master of the Horse, Minister of State, Chamberlain, Major-General,
Colonel of his Guards, and Commandant at _Berlin_. His Brother who came
along with him had also a share of his Favor; for he was made Colonel of a
Regiment of Horse, Lieutenant-General, and Governor of _Lipstadt_. They
both married, but the only one that left Male Issue was my Grandfather,
who by _Eleonora_ of _Nassau_, Daughter to Prince _Maurice_ of _Orange_,
had two Sons, and two Daughters. This however prov’d a very unsuitable
Match; for my Grandmother was imperious, frugal, and jealous, whereas her
Husband was extravagant, and an Admirer of the Fair Sex: which Tempers so
opposite to each other created a Misunderstanding between them, that
amounted almost to a staunch Hatred. Yet my Grandfather, some time before
he died, settled all his Estate upon her, repented of the Vexation he had
given her, and he thought this Generosity of his would have made her easy,
but it only render’d her the more impatient to be a Widow, insomuch that
she had not the Complaisance to conceal it from him; and the very last
Words he liv’d to hear her pronounce, were neither comforting nor
Christian.
Soon after the Death of my Grandfather my Uncle died, who was my Father’s
own Brother. The only Issue he left was a Daughter, who was chief Maid of
Honour to the Queen _Sophia Charlotte_, whose Bounties to her render’d her
a Person of no small Note in _Germany_.
My Father married the Daughter of Baron _D----_ by whom he had my Brother
in 1690. I was born thirteen Months after him, _viz._ the 25th of
_February_ 1692, at _Issouin_, a Village in the Electorate of _Cologn_,
where my Father then lay with his Regiment in Winter-Quarters. The
Electoress was my God-mother, and I was christen’d _Charles-Lewis_. Before
I was full two years of Age I had the misfortune to lose my Father, who
died at _Maestricht_, and left my Mother a Widow with three Children, and
a very little Estate to maintain us. My Grandmother, who, as I had said
before, had all my Grandfather’s Estate, was so extremely penurious, that
she had not the heart to part with any of it to my Mother, whose Situation
would have been very melancholy had it not been for the Generosity of the
King (at that time only Elector). This Prince sent for her back to
_Berlin_, and gave her a Pension; and in a little time after, my Relations
help’d her to another Husband, _viz. M. de M----_ Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs, who tho’ he died at the end of ten Months left her so
warm a Widow, that me might very well pass for one of the best Fortunes at
Court; and then she threw up her Pension, rather than keep it to the
prejudice of other Persons that stood more in need of it, which she
thought was an Abuse of the Elector’s Bounty.
My Mother’s Fondness for me would not suffer her to part with me, so that
I was brought up under her Wing, and at a Court which was at that time the
most splendid in _Germany_.
* * * * *
_Frederic-William_, when he died, left five Princes, _viz._ the Elector,
whom he had by _Louisa-Henrietta_ of _Nassau_ Princess of _Orange_; and
the Margraves _Charles_, _Philip_, _Albert_, and _Christian_, by _Dorothy_
Princess of _Holstein_, Dowager of the Duke of _Zell_. These Princes, at
an Age more proper for Pleasure than Business, studied how to be most
agreeable. Being frank and generous they adorn’d the Court, even more by
their personal Qualities than by their Magnificence; and the Elector
himself contributed to the splendor of it, by giving frequent Feasts, tho’
he was reproach’d with being too much addicted to them, too scrupulous in
the Ceremonies he requir’d to be observ’d at them, and more expensive in
them than elegant. Nevertheless, this is what strikes Foreigners more than
any thing; and ’tis Entertainments of this kind that give a Court its
fullest Lustre. The true Ornament of ours was the Electoress, Daughter of
_Ernest Augustus_, Elector of _Hanover_, and Sister to _George_ I. King of
_England_. Our Elector, after burying his first Wife the Princess of
_Hesse_, marry’d his second on the 28th of _September_ 1684, when he was
only the Electoral Prince. The latter Princess, from what Lineage soever
Heaven had sent her, had Qualities that would have procur’d her respect:
Her Beauty was regular, and tho’ she was but little in stature, her Air
was majestic. She spoke all the Languages of _Europe_ that are in present
use, with ease, and was so good as to converse with all Foreigners in
their own Tongue. She understood History, Natural Philosophy, and
Divinity; but with Knowledge so extensive, she was extremely careful to
avoid the reputation of being Learned. As fond as she was of Reading, she
was not an enemy to Pleasures. She lov’d Music, Dancing, and Plays; and by
her command, Comedies were often represented, in which sometimes she did
not disdain to be an Actress. Her regard for all who excell’d in any Art
drew them to her Court, in which Politeness bore sway, as much as in any
other Court of _Europe_. Of all things in the world she had nothing near
so much at heart as the Education of her Son the Electoral Prince, whom
she lov’d tenderly, and omitted nothing to inspire him with all the Ideas
that might hereafter render him as exalted in Sentiments as he was to be
in Power: And the young Prince on his part seem’d to make a suitable
return for the Princess’s care of him.
While the Court was thus addicted to Pleasures and Feastings, they gave
themselves little or no trouble about the Affairs of Government; so that
_Dankelman_ the Prime Minister bore the weight of all. He had then the
Elector’s intire Confidence, and so absolute an ascendant over his mind,
that he was suppos’d to be perfectly secure against the disgraces to which
Favorites are commonly expos’d. The Favor he stood in, was owing to the
most important Service that ’tis possible for a Subject to render to his
Sovereign: For one day when this Prince (as yet only the Prince Electoral)
was drinking Coffee with his Mother-in-law the Electoress, he was taken so
ill on a sudden that he was oblig’d to retire to his Apartment, where he
was seiz’d with Convulsions which threaten’d his Life. It happen’d that
_Dankelman_ then the Secretary of his Dispatches was the only Person at
hand, to relieve him: He open’d a Box in which there were certain
Antidotes, and having given him several Doses, for want of a Surgeon and a
Lancet he open’d a Vein with a Penknife; and his management was attended
with such good success, that the Prince, after having had a hearty Vomit,
found himself quite out of danger.
An Event of this nature could not but make a great Noise: The Vulgar
especially, who are fond of nothing so much as what is extraordinary,
thought that the Prince’s Indisposition did not proceed from a natural
Cause, but imagin’d that the Electoress’s tenderness for the Margraves her
Sons was reason good enough to suspect that she wanted to get rid of the
Prince her Son-in-law, which was to be sure the shortest way to let them
into the Succession. The Electoral Prince’s retreat to the Court of the
Landgrave of _Hesse-Cassel_ seemed to give a Sanction also to a Suspicion
of that sort. But be this as it will, the Prince stay’d there several
years, during which he married the Landgrave’s Sister, by whom he had
only one Daughter, who marry’d in 1700, to the Hereditary Prince of
_Hesse_, now King of _Sweden_.
_Dankelman_ was artful enough to make his advantage of this happy Incident
of having sav’d his Master’s Life: He stuck closer to him than ever; and
that grateful Prince, as soon he came to the Electoral Dignity, made him
his prime Minister, and confer’d all the marks of Friendship on him, that
’tis possible for any Subject to aspire to; insomuch that _Dankelman_
giving the Elector to understand one day, that he fear’d his Favour would
be of no long duration, this Prince was so good-natur’d, or so weak, as to
fortify him as far as was in the power of the most solemn Oaths[1].
_Dankelman_ was so credulous as to trust to those Protestations; and
forgetting that the most solid Friendship of Princes cannot be proof
against their Inconstancy or Caprice, he thought himself above the reach
of Fate, and behav’d like a Man that had nothing to fear. But the little
care he took to gain People’s Love, and the ever-odious Titles of Minister
and Favourite, made him soon hated by the whole Court. The Elector himself
began by degrees to be out of conceit with him; for their Tempers were
incompatible; the Minister being Covetous, and the Prince a Man of Pomp
and Expence; and he was so perpetually teaz’d with the Remonstrances of
_Dankelman_, that he hated him in his heart long before he durst make it
appear. The Minister too much elated with his Favour, and not so careful
to please his Master as to censure his Actions, thought himself able to
preserve the same ascendant over him, or at least, did not think the
Elector would ever offer to ruin him; which Confidence of his hinder’d him
from parrying the Thrusts that were made at him in secret; so that he was
arrested at midnight in his own House, and carry’d to _Spandaw_ in one of
the Elector’s Coaches, under a Guard of twenty Men.
His being so suddenly disgrac’d was matter of surprize to every body, but
of concern to few. ’Twas observ’d that on the very day wherein _Dankelman_
was arrested, the Elector spoke to him so kindly in presence of the whole
Court, that those of the nicest penetration little thought his Fall to be
so near. Indeed, every body had long before endeavour’d, or wish’d for an
opportunity to trip up his heels; and the natural Inconstancy of the
Elector to his Favorites, and this Minister’s want of complaisance to the
Elector, made it very probable that he would quickly be tumbled from that
Summit of Favor, on which he thought himself so sure of keeping his Hold;
there wanted only a more specious pretext to remove a Man from Court, who
had all along seem’d to aim at nothing but the welfare of the Government;
and such a one naturally presented itself in the affair of the Duchy of
_Limbourg_.
This Duchy had been mortgag’d by _Spain_, as Security for considerable
Sums which were owing by that Crown to the Elector, who in consequence put
his Troops to quarter there for the Winter. The _Dutch_, to whom _Spain_
was a Debtor in like manner, would gladly also have had that Duchy made
over to them, as Security for their Debt; which not being to be done
without the evacuation of our Troops, the matter was propos’d to
_Dankelman_, who, whether he was surpriz’d, or brib’d, gave his consent
to it. This was imputed to him as a Crime of State the more heinous,
because _Spain_ being at that time ready to conclude a Peace with
_France_, in pursuance of the Treaty of _Ryswic_, was very indifferent as
to complying with the Demands of the Elector. To this the Minister fell a
Sacrifice, but by good luck for him he had remitted several Sums to
Foreign Countries, so that his disgrace was the lighter; which moreover
had this singularity in it, that neither of his three Brothers nor any of
his Creatures had a share in it, but were all continued in their
Employments; and all the alteration that happen’d, was, that the Count _de
Barfous_, then a Veldt-Marshal, performed for some time the Functions of
the Prime Minister.
In the mean time another Idol of Fortune rose upon the ruin of
_Dankelman_. This was _John Casimir de Kolbe_, a Gentleman originally of
the Palatinate: His first appearance at Court was in the time of
_Frederic-William_ the Great, in the retinue of the Princess-Palatine _de
Simmeren_, Sister of the first Electoress, who having desir’d the Elector
to give _Kolbe_ some Employment; he made him a Privy-Counsellor, but gave
him liberty to attend the Princess as much as ever, who was so good to him
that she was reproach’d with caring for no body else. He went with her
into the Palatinate, where that Princess died soon after, and then _Kolbe_
return’d to Court, where he was a meer Stranger, without Relations,
Acquaintance or Protection; and ’twas a long time before any the least
notice was taken of him. But after the death of _Frederic-William_, he
made his Court to _Frederic_ his Son who succeeded him, and to _Dankelman_
his Minister. Being always humble, and a Flatterer into the bargain, he
quickly gain’d their Friendship by his Assiduity, and by his study’d
Affectation not to meddle or make in any Affairs. _Dankelman_, as crafty a
Man as he was, did not perceive the Snare, but contributed most of all to
his Favor, thinking all the while that he was promoting a Creature from
whom he had nothing to fear. But _Kolbe_ no sooner perceiv’d the Elector’s
Coldness to his Minister than he resolv’d to make his Advantage of it. He
did not alter his Measures immediately, but seeming to have as little
Concern in Affairs as ever, his only Aim was to feed and propagate the ill
Humors which the Elector was often in with his Favorite. This Prince was
inconstant, suspicious and choleric; and when those three Passions were
stirr’d up and managed, he was to be persuaded to any thing. _Kolbe_ who
for a long time had made his Temper his only Study, plainly perceiv’d his
Foible, artfully wrought upon it, and in the sequel made it subservient to
the Accomplishment of his Designs. He soon attain’d to the highest Degree
of Favor; the Elector made him his Great Chamberlain and First Minister;
all the Court was oblig’d to truckle to him; and as it always happens in
the Changes of Government, the Minister in Disgrace was regretted. Indeed
_Kolbe_ did not want for personal Qualities enough to make him belov’d;
but the worst on’t was, they were eclips’d by an astonishing Fondness for
his Wife, to whom he was so blindly complaisant, that all the good People
at Court despis’d and hated him.
This Lady has play’d so extraordinary a Part in the World, that I can’t
avoid giving you some Account of her Origin and Character. Her Father,
one _Rickers_, was a Bargeman at _Emmerick_, a Town in the Duchy of
_Cleves_, where for better Subsistance he kept a sort of Tavern. He had
two Daughters, who pass’d for fine Women, that brought a good deal of
Company to his House, and in a Journey which the Elector made to _Cleves,
Bidekan_ his Valet de Chambre fell in love with the eldest, the Lady I am
speaking of, marry’d her and took her with him to _Berlin_, where she fell
so passionately in love with _Kolbe_, that after having been his Mistress
in her Husband’s Life-time, he was hardly cold in his Grave but she became
his Wife. The Wedding was kept at the House of one _Commesser_, another of
the Elector’s Valets de Chambre, where that Prince was present, with seven
or eight Persons in his Company; and from that very Juncture he began to
shew such great Marks of Complaisance to the Lady, that several People
thought she ow’d them to something more than to the Friendship he had for
his Favorite. Nevertheless I am very well persuaded they were mistaken;
and I remember, that when I was Gentleman of the Bed-chamber to the
Elector, he said to me in one of his ill Humors with his Favorite and his
Wife (and in these sort of Pets he was not capable of dissembling) _I know
the Notion that prevails of my being under certain Tyes to +Kolbe’s+ Lady,
but there is nothing in it_; _and the Wrong is greater to me than to her_.
For really was it not enough for a Woman of such mean Extraction, Parts
and Beauty too, to be the Wife of a Minister, but she must also be
ambitious to be the Mistress of a Sovereign? Yet it must be confess’d,
that whether it was meer Humor, or a weak Attachment to the Favorite, the
Elector heap’d Wealth and Honors upon this Lady, insomuch that nothing
would serve him but she must be admitted to the Electoress’s Circle, who
at that time indeed obstinately refus’d it; for who is there would not
have been disgusted to have seen the Daughter of _Rickers_ the Bargeman
mixing with Ladies of Quality that had a Right to be in the Circle?
However, some time after, the Electoress was oblig’d to wave all the Pleas
of Decorum, for the sake of the Need she stood in of the Great
Chamberlain; and his Wife had the Honor of the Circle.
The same Year that _Kolbe_ was declared Prime Minister, the Emperor made
him a Count of the Empire. He then chang’d his Name for that of Count _de
Wartemberg_, which was the Name of a ruinous Castle that he had in the
_Palatinate_. His Lady, when she became a Countess, had a mind that her
Children by her first Marriage should be promoted to the Dignity of
Barons; and they were accordingly call’d Barons of _Asbach_. But these new
Titles of the Count and Barons compleatly turn’d the Head of Madame _de
Wartemberg_, and she was every day guilty of Extravagancies which were
disgusting and ridiculous.
Such, _Madame_, was the State of our Court in my early years. It began to
shew its Superiority over almost all the Courts of _Germany_, by the
Influence it had upon the Affairs of _Europe_: But that which added new
Lustre to it, was the erecting the Duchy of _Prussia_ into a Kingdom. The
first Hint of this was given by _France_ to _Frederic-William_; but that
Elector, whether it was owing to some Obstacles that he foresaw, or to the
little Advantage he thought to reap from it, was not willing to put the
Project in execution. His Son too perhaps would have miscarried in it, had
it not been for the Situation of Affairs in _Europe_, on account of the
_Spanish_ Succession. _Kolbe_, whom I shall hereafter call the Count of
_Wartemberg_, had all the Honour of this Event, because it happen’d in
his Ministry. I had some Particulars, _Madame_, from his own Mouth, which
I think important enough to have a place in these Memoirs. The Affair is
moreover so weighty of it self that I shall trace it from its very
beginning.
Great Events commonly have their Source in Trifles. This was owing to
nothing more than the Refusal of the Prince of _Orange_, who was King of
_England_, to give an Arm-Chair to the Elector in a Conference betwixt
those two Princes at the _Hague_ in 1695. The Elector cou’d not bear that
the Prince of _Orange_, who had always been his Inferior, shou’d carry it
to him in such a lofty manner, after Fortune had rais’d him to the Throne
of _England_; and from that time he resolved to be a King too.
_Dankelman_ the then Prime Minister, who cou’d not foresee the Situation
that _Europe_ was in some Years after, would fain have diverted the
Elector from a Project which he thought a perfect Chimæra; he put him in
mind of the Difficulties _Frederic-William_ met with in it, and of the
Reasons he had to refuse the Offers which _France_ made to him on that
head; he shew’d him that the same Reasons were still subsisting, and
reinforc’d by yet greater Difficulties; and that it was Madness to attempt
a Thing, the Success whereof was neither certain nor advantageous, his
Rank being so near a-kin to Royalty, that he would be never the better for
the Title. But the Elector had the refusal of the Arm-chair too much at
heart to hearken to any Reasons that could be brought against his Design,
and sent _Dankelman_, his Minister’s Brother, to _Vienna_, to impart to
the Emperor the Scheme which he had form’d to erect _Prussia_ into a
Kingdom.
_Prussia_, which is a Province detach’d from _Poland_, formerly belong’d
to the _Lithuanians_, from whom it was conquer’d by the _Teutonic_ Order.
_Albert_ Margrave of _Brandenburg_, the Grand Master of the said Order,
who had marry’d _Dorothy_, Daughter of _Frederic_ I. King of _Denmark_,
took it from those Knights in 1511, and made himself Master of it. This
engag’d him in a War with _Sigismond_ I. King of _Poland_, his Uncle by
the Mother’s side, who had Pretensions upon the said Province; which War
continu’d five Years, till it was concluded by a Treaty, whereby it was
stipulated, That the Eastern _Prussia_ shou’d remain hereditary with the
Title of a Duchy to _Albert_, who, together with his Descendants shou’d
perform Allegiance and Homage for it to the King and Republic of _Poland_,
to which it was to revert on the failure of Issue Male in the Family of
_Albert_.
The Emperor _Charles_ V. oppos’d this Transaction, by pretending that
_Prussia_ was a Fief of the Empire; and that therefore _Sigismond_ had no
Right to dispose of it. The Imperial Decree which was pass’d upon this
Occasion, had however no Effect, by reason of the Wars which the Emperor
was at that time engag’d in, and _Albert_ remain’d in peaceable Possession
of _Prussia_. He was succeeded by his only Son _Albert-Frederic_, who
receiv’d the Investiture of it from the King of _Poland_, for himself and
his Cousin-Germans in 1569. This Prince dying without Issue, _John
Sigismond_ Elector of _Brandenburg_ succeeded him, and again receiv’d the
Investiture of it from the King of _Poland_, for himself and his three
Brothers. Since that time the Duchy of _Prussia_ has always been
in the _Brandenburg_ Family from Father to Son; but the Elector
_Frederic-William_ the Great, having made War upon _Charles-Gustavus_ King
of _Sweden_, in favour of the Crown and Republic of _Poland_, the
Sovereignty of _Prussia_ was, in Acknowledgment thereof, yielded to him,
for himself and all his Male Descendants, by the Treaty of _Bydgost_ in
1659.
By virtue of this Treaty, the Elector claim’d that _Prussia_ depended on
no other Power; and that he held it immediately by Divine Right; and upon
this Plea he thought himself authoriz’d to be declar’d King. But before he
took this Step, it was necessary to secure the Consent of a Part, at
least, of the Princes of the Empire. As the Emperor’s Consent was not only
the most important, but the most difficult to obtain, the whole stress of
the Negociation lay almost at the Court of _Vienna_.
When _Dankelman_ arriv’d there, he did not find the Court in a Temper to
grant it. The august Title of a King conferr’d upon an Elector, was at
first thought to be prejudicial to the Imperial Authority, and it was
look’d upon as exposing of that Dignity, to acquiesce in the Elector’s
Demand before they had at least felt the Pulses of the Generality of the
Princes of _Europe_, and especially those of the Empire. ’Twas but
reasonable to imagine the Pope would oppose it strenuously upon the score
of the Protestant Religion, which by the Elector’s Advancement might
gather fresh Strength. All Kings in general were interested not to suffer
an Instance which had a seeming Tendency to authorize every Prince to take
the same Step, on the single Pretence of being possess’d of a Bit of Land,
and holding it of no Power but God. But the Persons from whom the
greatest Objections were expected, were the Electors; and indeed they had
reason to fear, 1. That when the Elector of _Brandenburg_ came to be a
King, he wou’d no longer look upon them as his Equals, but wou’d claim
certain Distinctions from them in the Empire and in the Dyets. 2. That he
would withdraw the Dominions of his Electorate from the Obedience of the
Empire, and from the Laws to which all the other Electors were subject.
This Article was of the utmost consequence to them, especially with regard
to the Contingent they are oblig’d to furnish towards Wars which concern
the Empire, and which are the more burthensome, the fewer Heads they fall
upon.
These being then the Notions of the Court of _Vienna_, _Dankelman_ had no
great Hopes of succeeding in his Negociation. Nevertheless the Court
always took care to keep fair with the Elector, whom they look’d upon as
an Ally that was well worth preserving; and perhaps they flatter’d
themselves they should get more by Promises and Expectations than by
granting him his Demand.
The Death of _John Sobieski_ King of _Poland_, which happen’d on the 17th
of _June_ 1696, was another Inducement to the Emperor to pursue the same
Politics. The Elector of _Brandenburg_ by having _Prussia_ in his
Neighbourhood, might be of great Weight in the Election of a new King of
_Poland_; and the Emperor who had a Design to advance the Margrave _Lewis_
of _Baden_ to the Throne, pretended to enter into the Views of the
Elector, that this Prince might afterwards fall in with his at the Dyet of
Election. For this end the Emperor’s Ministers gave _Dankelman_ to
understand, that the first thing to be done was to clear the Difficulties
which the several Powers of _Europe_ might raise against the Elector’s
Project; and that the Congress of _Ryswic_, at which all the Ministers
were to be present, was the most favourable Opportunity.
Hereupon _Dankelman_ was recall’d from the Court of _Vienna_, and sent to
_Ryswic_ as Plenipotentiary from the Elector, jointly with M. _de
Schmettau_. The Elector for his part set out for _Konigsberg_, the Capital
of _Prussia_, that he might be nearer at hand to favor the Election of the
Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_. Mean time he was strenuously sollicited in
favor of _Alexander_ and _Constantine_ Princes of _Poland_, who for that
reason came themselves to _Berlin_; but the Elector was far from breaking
the secret Engagements which he had made with the Emperor: Therefore he
answer’d the Solicitations of those two Princes in a very ambiguous
manner, by engaging himself to nothing, and only telling them that he was
going into _Prussia_ that he might be the better inform’d of every thing
that pass’d at the Dyet of Election.
The Necessity which the Elector stood in of _Poland_ to succeed in his
Views, laid him under an indispensible Obligation to concern himself in
that Election. He fully expected that the Right which the said Republic
claim’d to _Prussia_ wou’d induce it to oppose his Designs with Vigor; and
besides, under the Pretext of interesting himself in the Election of a
King, he might form a Party that hereafter would be capable to serve him;
therefore, as soon as he arriv’d at _Konigsberg_, he dispatch’d a
Messenger to the Cardinal _Radziowsky_ Primate of _Poland_, to acquaint
him of his Arrival, and sent M. _Dorerbeck_ Great Cup-bearer of _Prussia_
as his Ambassador to the Dyet of Election, with Orders to support the
Interests of the Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_, but in the mean time to do
nothing that might disoblige the _Poles_.
The Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_ was soon out of the Question; for the two
strongest Parties oblig’d him to retire, as well as the other Competitors
for the Crown. These two Parties were the one for _Frederic-Augustus_
Elector of _Saxony_, and the other for the Prince of _Conti_. The Cardinal
Primate favor’d the latter, and _France_ seem’d to have his Election very
much at heart; yet _Frederic-Augustus_’s Party carried it, and he was
proclaim’d King.
The Cardinal Primate was still obstinate for the Prince of _Conti_, and
actually sent one of his near Relations to the Elector to sollicit him in
his Favor; but the Elector, who thought the Elector of _Saxony_’s Party
the most substantial and the most powerful, did not scruple to own him for
King, and return’d for Answer to the Cardinal, That he advis’d him, as the
Chief Pastor of _Poland_, to maintain Peace in his Flock, and to submit to
the Elector of _Saxony_. Nevertheless the Primate stood out stiffly, and
form’d a Party in _Poland_, considerable enough to give the new King
Uneasiness. The Elector still persevering in his Views to make himself
necessary to _Poland_, return’d next year to _Konigsberg_, in hopes of
appeasing the Disturbances rais’d there by the two different Parties.
_Kolbe_, who was not yet Count of _Wartemberg_, but only Great
Chamberlain, made a Journey to _Warsaw_ for this purpose, on the part of
the Elector, and complimented the King on his Accession to the Crown. The
King in his Turn sent the Count _de Bilinsky_ Great Chamberlain of the
Crown to the Elector, to compliment him on his Arrival at _Konigsberg_,
and there to negociate an Interview betwixt them. The Elector wish’d for
it too heartily to refuse it, and _Fredericshoss_, one of his
Pleasure-houses, was chose for the place of Meeting. There every thing
pass’d, as is common upon those Occasions; a great deal of Business was
talk’d of, and referred to the Ministers for Conclusion. The two Princes
made each other magnificent Presents, and exchang’d all the Tokens of the
sincerest Friendship. This Union seem’d still increasing by the Sale which
the King of _Poland_ made this year to the Elector of the Fee for
protecting the Abbey-Town of _Quedlimbourg_, which no Elector of _Saxony_
would ever part with before, whatsoever Instances were made to them by the
Family of _Brandenburg_. The Elector had less Reason than any of his
Predecessors to hope for Success in this Affair. _Poland_, besides the
Pleas of Interest, had others of Resentment; and this Prince’s Conduct in
the affair of _Elbing_ bid fair to set the King and the Elector at
variance. The Dispute was about a Demand of 400,000 Crowns which the
Elector made upon _Poland_, for the Expences of the War, which his Father,
_Frederic-William_ the Great, had carry’d on in favor of the Republic
against _Charles_ XI. King of _Sweden_. The King of _Poland_ in the
Interview at _Fredericshoff_ had promis’d to persuade the Republic to pay
that Sum. The Elector whose Patience was worn out in Expectation of the
Performance, notwithstanding the many Reasons he had to keep fair with
_Poland_, caused the City of _Elbing_, which had been mortgag’d to him for
that Sum, to be invested. And M. _de Brantz_, my Uncle, who was
Lieutenant-General, was sent upon this Expedition, at the Head of a Body
of 12000 Men.
The _Poles_ no sooner heard of it but they made a very great Clamor, and
the King complain’d loudly of the Elector’s Proceeding, who being, _said
he_, his Cousin, his Friend, and Ally, ought to have had more Regard for
him. ’Twas at least after this manner that he express’d himself in the
Circular Letters, which he wrote to assemble the Nobility of _Poland_. But
the Elector went on still his own way, and the City of _Elbing_ was taken
before the _Poles_ had so much as a Thought of defending it. As soon as
the King of _Poland_ was told of it, he ordered the Elector’s Resident to
depart the City of _Thorn_ in 24 Hours, and the Kingdom without Delay. M.
_de Reitwitz_, Envoy of _Poland_ to the Elector, fearing the same
Treatment, was absent from Court for a Fortnight; but return’d then,
causing his Appearance to be notify’d to the Ministers, not as Envoy from
the King of _Poland_, but as Envoy from the Elector of _Saxony_. By this
piece of Management ’tis plain that the King of _Poland_ did not take the
Affair of _Elbing_ so much to heart as he seem’d to do; and some time
after the Matter was accommodated; the Elector consenting to lose one
fourth of the Debt, and the _Poles_ promising to pay the rest at the
Expiration of three Months, and depositing their King’s Crown for
Security. The Elector on his part restor’d _Elbing_ on condition
nevertheless, that he should have it again at the three Month’s end, if
the 300,000 Crowns were not then paid. This Affair has ever since remain’d
_in statu quo_: The _Poles_ are still Debtors for that Sum, and the
Elector contents himself with detaining the Crown, which is still at
_Berlin_, in the Gallery over the great Stables, where ’tis kept in a
Case, seal’d with the Seal of the Kingdom of _Poland_.
Mean time the Peace of _Ryswic_ was just sign’d, and sooner than expected,
by reason _France_ receded from several Pretensions; which every body
knows she was induc’d to do from the View she had at that time to the
_Spanish_ Succession, and to that end it was absolutely necessary for her
to make a Peace with that Power and to disarm the Allies. Consequently
Messieurs _Dankelman_ and _Schmettau_ had no time to push the Negociation
of the Affair of _Prussia_ any farther; nevertheless they acted with the
_Dutch_ to some purpose.
The Elector had sent _Bartholdi_ to _Vienna_ in the place of _Dankelman_,
and M. _Blaspiel_ to _Dusseldorff_ to the Elector _Palatine_, whom he
thought proper to treat with extraordinary Regard, as well upon his own
Account, as with relation to the Empress his Sister who had a very great
Ascendant over the Emperor.
_Bartholdi_ when he arriv’d at _Vienna_ found the Court in the very same
Disposition as it was in the time of _Dankelman_. There was a great shew
of Good-will, but no Advance made; for the Emperor’s Ministers were never
at a loss for a Reason to defer coming to the Point. The Republic of
_Poland_ furnish’d very cogent ones too, by the Protestations it made
against every Step taken towards erecting _Prussia_ into a Kingdom, on
pretence that it formerly belong’d to the Republic, and that the _Poles_
only suffer’d it to fall to the House of _Brandenburg_, on condition of
its reverting to them on the Failure of Issue Male in that Family. The
Emperor said he could not help having Regard to those Protestations, the
Alliance which he had been in for a long time with the Republic being
become much firmer since the raising the Siege of _Vienna_, when _John
Sobiesky_ at the Head of the _Poles_ so effectually reliev’d it.
_Bartholdi_ being dishearten’d with all these Delays, began to despair of
the Success of the Negociation. He flatter’d himself for a while that the
languishing State of _Charles_ II. King of _Spain_, which presag’d his
approaching Death, and the cruel War between the Houses of _Austria_ and
_Bourbon_, on account of the _Spanish_ Succession, would promote the
Success of his Master’s Designs; and that the State Policy which at that
Juncture oblig’d the Emperor to strengthen himself with Allies, would make
him chuse to retain in his Party a Prince so powerful and so necessary to
his Interests as the Elector. But _Bartholdi_ was deceiv’d; and whether
the Court of _Vienna_ flatter’d itself that the Elector wou’d never
venture to take the part of _France_, or whether they thought it more
nearly concern’d them to humor the Powers that oppos’d the Elector’s
Views, they had always some fresh Pretence or other to trump up.
_Bartholdi_ cou’d not avoid giving an Account to the Elector his Master of
what he thought of these continual Delays, and he told him there was no
manner of Reason to hope that the Emperor would recognize him for King
before he was sure of the Consent of the Pope, and of all the Princes of
the Empire; that it was easy to see this was only a civil Excuse that the
Emperor made use of for his Refusal, rather than to make him his Enemy;
and that the Case was really so desperate, that he knew of but one
Stratagem to make use of before he retir’d; and that was that he shou’d
write with his own Hand to the Prince of ----, who, said _Bartholdi_, was
the only Person in the World to induce the Emperor to be more favorable.
His Dispatch was written in a Cypher, and the Secretary who decypher’d it,
thought he met with the Name of the Emperor’s Confessor, instead of that
of the Prince of ----. The Elector approv’d of his Minister’s Hint, and
wrote immediately to the Confessor, who happen’d to be a Jesuit. This
Reverend Father was overjoy’d to find himself courted by one of the
greatest Protestant Princes, and promising himself that he should reap
considerable Advantages for his Society, from the Success of a Negociation
which the Elector had so much at heart, and in which two of his most able
Ministers had already miscarried, he made no scruple to undertake it.
As soon as he began to meddle with it, it assum’d a new Face; the Court of
_Rome_ made but a faint Opposition to it: That of _Vienna_ being alarmed
at the News they received from the Count _de Harrach_ their Ambassador at
_Madrid_, of the bad State of the King of _Spain_’s Health, and of the
_Spaniards_ Byass for the Duke of _Anjou_, became more tractable; and the
very Reasons that _Bartholdi_ urg’d in vain, began to be relish’d when
they were represented by the Confessor. This Jesuit convinc’d the Emperor,
that as he was resolv’d to dispute the Succession to the Crown of _Spain_
with _France_, such an Ally as the Elector would give great Weight to
either of the two Parties that he fell in with. The Confessor’s Arguments
were applauded by some, and faintly rejected by others; so that the
Father, by craftily taking advantage of the Good-Will of the latter, and
of the Lethargy of the former, brought the Affair of _Prussia_ in less
than two Month’s Time to the Point of a happy Conclusion.
While such effectual Endeavors were us’d for the Elector at the Court of
_Vienna_, his Interest was as successfully manag’d with the King of
_England_. The Electoress, together with her Mother the Electoress of
_Hanover_, went to pay him a Visit at _Aix la Chapelle_; and in that
Interview, these two Princesses prevail’d on King _William_ of _England_
to recognize the Elector of _Brandenburg_ for King of _Prussia_, and to
call the House of _Hanover_ to the Succession of the Crown of _England_.
One particular Circumstance in this Journey that prov’d of such Service to
the Elector’s Designs, and which many People look’d upon as a politic
Action, is, that it would not have been undertaken, had it not been for
the extreme Fondness of Madame _de Wartemberg_ to be admitted in the
Electoress’s Circle. This Princess upon the Intelligence she receiv’d that
her Mother the Electoress of _Hanover_ was going to _Aix la Chapelle_, was
very desirous to go with her, but she cou’d not hope to obtain the
Elector’s Consent to it, nor to have Money enough with her to bear her
Expences, if the Count _de Wartemberg_ oppos’d it; and therefore she
charg’d Madamoiselle _de Pollnitz_ my Cousin to speak to him about it. The
Count _de Wartemberg_ promis’d not only to obtain the Elector’s Consent,
but also to give the Electoress an Order at large to take up any Sums of
Money that she should want, provided that Princess would on her part only
acknowledge the Favor, by granting his Wife the Honor of Admittance to her
Circle. The Electoress had this Journey so much at heart, because she knew
it wou’d give her the Pleasure of seeing a Mother whom she tenderly
lov’d, as well as a Freedom, for some time at least, from the Constraint
she was oblig’d to live in at _Berlin_, that she consented to the Count’s
Demand. Madame _de Wartemberg_ was admitted to the Circle, and all the
Mortification the Electoress gave her, was always to talk to her in
_French_, which being a Language she did not understand, plainly shew’d
the Obscurity of the Countess’s Birth; for at that Time all Persons of any
Rank or Figure convers’d in that Language commonly at our Court. The
Electoress’s Condescension upon this Occasion is the only thing for which
she was to blame; for ’twas a Precedent which gave others Authority to
desire the same Favor; and to this may be said to be owing the unequal
Matches which several of the Nobility made afterwards.
The Count _de Wartemberg_, in order to obtain the Elector’s Consent, gave
him to understand that the Princess his Consort cou’d do more than any
body to prevail with the King of _England_ to recognize him for King. This
was touching him in the most sensible part; and therefore he made no
Scruple to let the Electoress go, who went and met her Mother at _Aix la
Chapelle_, and from thence they set out afterwards for _Brussels_. There
they stay’d a few days, in order to disguise the Motives of their Journey,
and from thence they went to _Loo_, where the King of _England_ was. They
each obtain’d of the Prince what they went to ask him; the House of
_Hanover_ was soon after call’d to the Succession of the Crown of
_England_, and the King gave his Promise, that as soon as the Emperor had
own’d the Elector King of _Prussia_, he wou’d be one of the first to
follow his Example.
As soon as the News reach’d _Vienna_ that the King of _England_ had
promis’d to recognize the Elector of _Brandenburg_ King of _Prussia_, the
remaining Difficulties were soon got over; the Protestations of the
Republic of _Poland_ were superseded, and the Emperor declar’d at length
that he own’d _Prussia_ for a Kingdom, and the Elector of _Brandenburg_
for King; on condition however,
1. That the Elector should never withdraw from the Empire the Provinces of
his Dominions thereon depending.
2. That in the Emperor’s Presence he should require no other Distinctions
than those which he actually enjoy’d now.
3. That his Imperial Majesty when he wrote to him should only give him the
Title of your _Royal Dilection_.
4. That nevertheless his Ministers at _Vienna_ should be treated on a Par
with those of Crown’d Heads.
5. That the Elector should maintain six thousand Men in _Italy_ at his own
expence, in case the Emperor should be oblig’d to go to War for the
_Spanish_ Succession.