Friedrich was over from Herrendorf with the first daylight,
"reconnoitring Glogau, and rode up to the very glacis;" scanning it
on all sides. [Ib. i. 484.] Since Wallis is so resolute, here is an
intricate little problem for Friedrich, with plenty of corollaries and
conditions hanging to it. Shall we besiege Glogau, then? We have no
siege-cannon here. Time presses, Breslau and all things in such
crisis; and it will take time. By what methods COULD Glogau be
besieged?--Readers can consider what a blind many-threaded coil of
things, heaping itself here in wide welters round Glogau, and straggling
to the world's end, Friedrich has on hand: probably those six days, of
Head-quarters at Herrendorf, were the busiest he had yet had.
One thing is evident, there ought to be siege-cannon got straightway;
and, still more immediate, the right posts and battering-places
should be ready against its coming.--"Let the Young Dessauer with that
Rearguard, or Reserve of 10,000, which is now at Crossen, come up and
assist here," orders Friedrich; "and let him be swift, for the hours are
pregnant!" On farther reflection, perhaps on new rumors from Breslau,
Friedrich perceives that there can be no besieging of Glogau at this
point of time; that the Reserve, Half of the Reserve, must be left
to "mask" it; to hold it in strict blockade, with starvation daily
advancing as an ally to us, and with capture by bombarding possible when
we like. That is the ultimate decision;--arrived at through a welter
of dubieties, counterpoisings and perilous considerations, which we now
take no account of. A most busy week; Friedrich incessantly in motion,
now here now there; and a great deal of heavy work got well and rapidly
done. The details of which, in these exuberant Manuscripts, would but
weary the reader. Choosing of the proper posts and battering-places
(post "on the other side of the River," "on this side of it," "on the
Island in the middle of it"), and obstinate intrenching and preparing
of the same in spite of frost; "wooden bridge built" farther up; with
"regulation of the river-boats, the Polish Ferry," and much else: all
this we omit; and will glance only at one pregnant point, by way of
sample:--
... "Most indispensable of all, the King has to provide
Subsistences:--and enters now upon the new plan, which will have to
be followed henceforth. The Provincial Chief-men (LANDES-AELTESTEN,
Land's-ELDESTS, their title) are summoned, from nine or ten Circles
which are likely to be interested: they appear punctually, and in
numbers,--lest contumacy worsen the inevitable. King dines them,
to start with; as many as 'ninety-five covers,'--day not given, but
probably one of the first in Herrendorf: not Christmas itself, one
hopes!
"Dinner done, the ninety-five Land's-Eldest are instructed by proper
parties, What the Infantry's ration is, in meat, in bread, exact to the
ounce; what the Cavalry's is, and that of the Cavalry's Horse. Tabular
statement, succinct, correct, clear to the simplest capacity, shows
what quanties of men on foot, and of men on horseback, or men
with draught-cattle, will march through their respective Circles;
Lands-Eldests conclude what amount of meal and butcher's-meat it will
be indispensable to have in readiness;--what Lands-Eldest can deny the
fact? These Papers still exist, at least the long-winded Summary of them
does: and I own the reading of it far less insupportable than that of
the mountains of Proclamatory, Manifesto and Diplomatic matter. Nay
it leaves a certain wholesome impression on the mind, as of business
thoroughly well done; and a matter, capable, if left in the chaotic
state, of running to all manner of depths and heights, compendiously
forced to become cosmic in this manner.
"These Lands-Eldest undertake, in a mildly resigned or even hopeful
humor. They will manage as required, in their own Circles; will
communicate with the Circles farther on; and everywhere the due
proviants, prestations, furtherances, shall be got together by fair
apportionment on the Silesian Community, and be punctually ready as
the Army advances. Book-keeping there is to be, legible record of
everything; on all hands 'quittance' for everything furnished; and a
time is coming, when such quittance, presented by any Silesian man,
will be counted money paid by him, and remitted at the next tax-day,
or otherwise made good. Which promise also was accurately kept,
the hoped-for time having come. It must be owned the Prussian Army
understands business; and, with brevity, reduces to a minimum its own
trouble, and that of other people, non-fighters, who have to do with
it. Non-fighters, I say; to fighters we hope it will give a respectable
maximum of trouble when applied to!" [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 492-499.]
The Gotter Negotiation at Vienna, which we saw begin there that wet
Sunday, is now fast ending, as good as ended; without result except of a
negative kind. Gotter's Proposals,--would the reader wish to hear these
Proposals, which were so intensely interesting at one time? They are
fivefold; given with great brevity by Friedrich, by us with still
greater:--
1. "Will fling myself heartily into the Austrian scale, and endeavor for
the interest of Austria in this Pragmatic matter, with my whole strength
against every comer.
2. "Will make treaty with Vienna, with Russia and the Sea-Powers, to
that effect.
3. "Will help by vote, and with whole amount of interest will endeavor,
to have Grand-Duke Franz, the Queen's Husband, chosen Kaiser; and to
maintain such choice against all and sundry. Feel myself strong enough
to accomplish this result; and may, without exaggeration, venture to say
it shall be done.
4. "To help the Court of Vienna in getting its affairs into good order
and fencible condition,--will present to it, on the shortest notice, Two
Million Gulden (200,000 pounds) ready money."--Infinitely welcome this
Fourth Proposition; and indeed all the other Three are welcome: but they
are saddled with a final condition, which pulls down all again. This,
which is studiously worded, politely evasive in phrase, and would fain
keep old controversies asleep, though in substance it is so fatally
distinct,--we give in the King's own words:
5. "For such essential services as those to which I bind myself by
the above very onerous conditions, I naturally require a proportionate
recompense; some suitable assurance, as indemnity for all the dangers
I risk, and for the part (ROLE) I am ready to play: in short, I require
hereby the entire and complete cession of all Silesia, as reward for
my labors and dangers which I take upon myself in this course now to
be entered upon for the preservation and renown of the House of
Austria;"--Silesia all and whole; and we say nothing of our "rights" to
it; politely evasive to her Hungarian Majesty, though in substance
we are so fatally distinct. [Preuss, _Thronbesteigung,_ p. 451; "from
Olenschlager, _Geschichte des Interegni_ [Frankfurt, 1746], i. 134."]
These were Friedrich's Proposals; written down with his own hand at
Reinsberg, five or six weeks ago (November 17th is the date of it); in
what mood, and how wrought upon by Schwerin and Podewils, we saw above.
Gotter has fulfilled his instructions in regard to this important little
Document; and now the effect of it is--? Gotter can report no good
effect whatever. "Be cautious," Friedrich instructs him farther; "modify
that Fifth Proposal; I will take less than the whole, 'if attention is
paid to my just claims on Schlesien.'" To that effect writes Friedrich
once or twice. But it is to no purpose; nor can Gotter, with all his
industry, report other than worse and worse. Nay, he reports before
long, not refusal only, but refusal with mockery: "How strange that his
Prussian Majesty, whose official post in Germany, as Kur-Brandenburg and
Kaiser's Chamberlain, has been to present ewer and towel to the House of
Austria, should now set up for prescribing rules to it!" A piece of wit,
which could not but provoke Friedrich; and warn him that negotiation on
this matter might as well terminate. Such had been his own thought, from
the first; but in compliance with Schwerin and Podewils he was willing
to try.
Better for Maria Theresa, and for all the world how much better, could
she have accepted this Fifth Proposition! But how could she,--the high
Imperial Lady, keystone of Europe, though by accident with only a few
pounds of ready money at present? Twenty years of bitter fighting, and
agony to herself and all the world, were necessary first; a new Fact of
Nature having turned up, a new European Kingdom with real King to it;
NOT recognizable as such, by the young Queen of Hungary or by any other
person, till it do its proofs.
WHAT BERLIN IS SAYING; WHAT FRIEDRICH IS THINKING.
What Friedrich's own humor is, what Friedrich's own inner man is saying
to him, while all the world so babbles about his Silesian Adventure?
Of this too there are, though in diluted state, some glimmerings to be
had,--chiefly in the Correspondence with Jordan.
Ingenious Jordan, Inspector of the Poor at Berlin,--his thousand old
women at their wheels humming pleasantly in the background of our
imaginations, though he says nothing of that,--writes twice a week to
his Majesty: pleasant gossipy Letters, with an easy respectfulness not
going into sycophancy anywhere; which keep the campaigning King well
abreast of the Berlin news and rumors: something like the essence of
an Old Newspaper; not without worth in our present Enterprise. One
specimen, if we had room!
JORDAN TO THE KING (successively from Berlin,--somewhat abridged.)
No. 1. "BERLIN, 14th DECEMBER, 1740 [day after his Majesty left].
Everybody here is on tiptoe for the Event; of which both origin and end
are a riddle to the most. I am charmed to see a part of your Majesty's
Dominions in a state of Pyrrhonism; the disease is epidemical here at
present. Those who, in the style of theologians, consider themselves
entitled to be certain, maintain That your Majesty is expected with
religious impatience by the Protestants, and that the Catholics hope to
see themselves delivered from a multitude of imposts which cruelly tear
up the beautiful bosom of their Church. You cannot but succeed in your
valiant and stoical Enterprise, since both religion and worldly interest
rank themselves under your flag.
"Wallis," Austrian Commandant in Glogau, "they say, has punished a
Silesian Heretic of enthusiastic turn, as blasphemer, for announcing
that a new Messiah is just coming. I have a taste for that kind of
martyrdom. Critical persons consider the present step as directly
opposed to certain maxims in the ANTI-MACHIAVEL.
"The word MANIFESTO--[your Majesty's little PATENT on entering Silesia,
which no reader shall be troubled with at present]--is the burden of
every conversation. There is a short Piece of the kind to come out
to-day, by way of preface to a large complete exposition, which a
certain Jurisconsult is now busy with. People crowd to the Bookshops
for it, as if looking out for a celestial phenomenon that had been
predicted.--This is the beginning of my Gazette; can only come out twice
a week, owing to the arrangement of the Posts. Friday, the day your
Majesty crosses into Silesia, I shall spend in prayer and devotional
exercises: Astronomers pretend that Mars will that day enter"--no matter
what.
NOTE, The above Manifesto rumor is correct; Jurisconsult is ponderous
Herr Ludwig, Kanzler (Chancellor) of Halle University, monster of
law-learning,--who has money also, and had to help once with a House
in Berlin for one Nussler, a son-in-law of his, transiently known to
us;--ponderous Ludwig, matchless or difficult to match in learning of
this kind, will write ample enough Deductions (which lie in print still,
to the extent of tons' weight), and explain the ERBVERBRUDERUNG and
violence done upon it, so that he who runs may read. Postpone him to a
calmer time.
No. 2. "BERLIN, SATURDAY, 17th DECEMBER. Manifesto has appeared,"--can
be seen, under thick strata of cobwebs, in many Books; [In
_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 448, 453 (what Jordan now alludes to); IB.
559-592 ["Deduction" itself, Ludwig in all his strength, some three
weeks hence; in OLENSCHLAGER (doubtless); in &c. &c.] is not worth
reading now: Incontestable rights which our House has for ages had on
Schlesien, and which doubtless the Hungarian Majesty will recognize; not
the slightest injury intended, far indeed from that; and so on!--"people
are surprised at its brevity; and, studying it as theologians do a
passage of Scripture, can make almost nothing of it. Clear as crystal,
says one; dexterously obscure by design, says another.
"Rumor that the Grand-Duke of Lorraine," Maria Theresa's Husband, "was
at Reinsberg incognito lately," Grand-Duke a concerting party, think
people looking into the thing with strong spectacles on their nose!
"M. de Beauvau [French Ambassador Extraordinary, to whom the aces were
promised if they came] said one thing that surprised me: 'What put the
King on taking this step, I do not know; but perhaps it is not such a
bad one.' Surprising news that the Elector of Saxony, King of Poland, is
fallen into inconsolable remorse for changing his religion [to Papistry,
on Papa's hest, many long years ago] and that it is not to the Pope, but
to the King of Prussia, that he opens his heart to steady his staggering
orthodoxy." Very astonishing to Jordan. "One thing is certain, all Paris
rings with your Majesty's change of religion" (over to Catholicism, say
those astonishing people, first conjurers of the universe)!
No. 3. "BERLIN, 20th DECEMBER. M. de Beauvau," French Ambassador, "is
gone. Ended, yesterday, his survey of the Cabinet of Medals; charmed
with the same: charmed too, as the public is, with the rich present he
has got from said Cabinet [coronation medal or medals in gold, I could
guess]: people say the King of France's Medal given to our M. de Camas
is nothing to it.
"Rumor of alliance between your Majesty and France with
Sweden,"--premature rumor. Item, "Queen of Hungary dead in
child-birth;"--ditto with still more emphasis! "The day before yesterday,
in all churches, was prayer to Heaven for success to your Majesty's
arms; interest of the Protestant religion being the one cause of the
War, or the only one assigned by the reverend gentlemen. At sound of
these words, the zeal of the people kindles: 'Bless God for raising
such a Defender! Who dared suspect our King's indifference to
Protestantism?'"
A right clever thing this last (O LE BEAU COUP D'ETAT)! exclaims
Jordan,--though it is not clever or the contrary, not being dramatically
prearranged, as Jordan exults to think. Jordan, though there are dregs
of old devotion lying asleep in him, which will start into new activity
when stirred again, is for the present a very unbelieving little
gentleman, I can perceive.--This is the substance of public rumor at
Berlin for one week. Friedrich answers:--
TO M. JORDAN, AT BERLIN.
"QUARTER AT MILKAU, TOWARDS GLOGAU, 19th DECEMBER, 1740 [comfortable
Jesuit-Establishment at Milkau, Friedrich just got in, out of the
rain].--Seigneur Jordan, thy Letter has given me a deal of pleasure in
regard to all these talkings thou reportest. To-morrow [not to-morrow,
nor next day; wet troops need a rest] I arrive at our last station this
side Glogau, which place I hope to get in a few days. All favors my
designs: and I hope to return to Berlin, after executing them gloriously
and in a way to be content with. Let the ignorant and the envious talk;
it is not they that shall ever serve as loadstar to my designs; not
they, but Glory [LA GLOIRE; Fame, depending not on them]: with the love
of that I am penetrated more than ever; my troops have their hearts big
with it, and I answer to thee for success. Adieu, dear Jordan. Write me
all the ill that the public says of thy Friend, and be persuaded that I
love and will esteem thee always."--F.
JORDAN TO THE KING.
No. 4; "BERLIN, 24th DECEMBER. Your Majesty's Letter fills me with
joy and contentment. The Town declared your Majesty to be already in
Breslau; founding on some Letter to a Merchant here. Ever since they
think of your Majesty acting for Protestantism, they make you step along
with strides of Achilles to the ends of Silesia.--Foreign Courts are all
rating their Ambassadors here for not finding you out.
"Wolf," his negotiations concluded at last, "has entered Halle almost
like the triumphant Entry to Jerusalem. A concourse of pedants escorted
him to his house. Lange [his old enemy, who accused him of Atheism and
other things] has called to see him, and loaded him with civilities, to
the astonishment of the old Orthodox." There let him rest, well buttoned
in gaiters, and avoiding to mount stairs.... "Madame de Roucoulles has
sent me the three objects adjoined, for your Majesty's behoof,"--woollen
achievements, done by the needle, good against the winter weather for
one she nursed. The good old soul. Enough now, of Jordan. [_OEuvres de
Frederic,_ xvii. 75-78.]
Voltaire, who left Berlin 2d or 3d December, seems to have been stopt by
overflow of rivers about Cleve, then to have taken boat; and is, about
this very time, writing to Friedrich "from a vessel on the Coasts of
Zealand, where I am driven mad." (Intends, privately, for Paris before
long, to get his MAHOMET acted, if possible.) To Voltaire, here is a
Note coming:
KING TO H. DE VOLTAIRE (at Brussels, if once got thither).
"QUARTER OF HERRENDORF IN SILESIA, 23d December, 1740.
"MY DEAR VOLTAIRE,--I have received two of your Letters; but could not
answer sooner; I am like Charles Twelfth's Chess-King, who was always
kept on the move. For a fortnight past, we have been continually afoot
and under way, in such weather as you never saw.
"I am too tired to reply to your charming Verses; and shivering too
much with cold to taste all the charm of them: but that will come round
again. Do not ask poetry from a man who is actually doing the work of
a wagoner, and sometimes even of a wagoner stuck in the mud. Would you
like to know my way of life? We march from seven in the morning till
four in the afternoon. I dine then; afterwards I work, I receive
tiresome visits; with these comes a detail of insipid matters of
business. 'Tis wrong-headed men, punctiliously difficult, who are to
be set right; heads too hot which must be restrained, idle fellows that
must be urged, impatient men that must be rendered docile, plunderers
to restrain within the bounds of equity, babblers to hear babbling, dumb
people to keep in talk: in fine, one has to drink with those that like
it, to eat with those that are hungry; one has to become a Jew with
Jews, a Pagan with Pagans.
"Such are my occupations;--which I would willingly make over to another,
if the Phantom they call Fame (GLOIRE) did not rise on me too often. In
truth, it is a great folly, but a folly difficult to cast away when
once you are smitten by it. [Phantom of GLOIRE somewhat rampant in
those first weeks; let us see whether it will not lay itself again,
forevermore, before long!]
"Adieu, my dear Voltaire; may Heaven preserve from misfortune the man I
should so like to sup with at night, after fighting in the morning!
The Swan of Padua [Algarotti, with his big hook-nose and dusky solemnly
greedy countenance] is going, I think, to Paris, to profit by my
absence; the Philosopher Geometer [big Maupertuis, in red wig and yellow
frizzles, vainest of human kind] is squaring curves; poor little Jordan
[with the kindly hazel eyes, and pen that pleasantly gossips to us]
is doing nothing, or probably something near it. Adieu once more, dear
Voltaire; do not forget the absent who love you. FREDERIC." [_OEuvres de
Frederic,_ xxii. 57.]
SCHWERIN AT LIEGNITZ; FRIEDRICH HUSHES UP THE GLOGAU PROBLEM, AND STARTS
WITH HIS BEST SPEED FOR BRESLAU.
Meanwhile, on the Western road, and along the foot of the snowy peaks
over yonder, Schwerin with the small Right column is going prosperously
forwards. Two columns always, as the reader recollects,--two parallel
military currents, flowing steadily on, shooting out estafettes, or
horse-parties, on the right and left; steadily submerging all Silesia as
they flow forward. Left column or current is in slight pause at Glogau
here; but will directly be abreast again. On Tuesday, 27th, Schwerin
is within wind of Liegnitz; on Wednesday morning, while the fires are
hardly lighted, or the smoke of Liegnitz risen among the Hills, Schwerin
has done his feat with the usual deftness: Prussian grenadiers came
softly on the sentry, softly as a dream; but with sudden levelling of
bayonets, sudden beckoning, "To your Guard-house!"--and there, turn the
key upon his poor company and him. Whereupon the whole Prussian column
marches in; tramp tramp, without music, through the streets: in the
Market-place they fold themselves into a ranked mass, and explode into
wind-harmony and rolling of drums. Liegnitz, mostly in nightcap, looks
cautiously out of window: it is a deed done, IHR HERREN; Liegnitz ours,
better late than never; and after so many years, the King has his own
again. Schwerin is sumptuously lodged in the Jesuits, Palace: Liegnitz,
essentially a Protestant Town, has many thoughts upon this event, but as
yet will be stingy of speaking them.
Thus is Liegnitz managed. A pleasant Town, amid pleasant hills on the
rocky Katzbach; of which swift stream, and other towns and passes on it,
we shall yet hear more. Population, silently industrious in weaving and
otherwise, is now above 14,000; was then perhaps about half that number.
Patiently inarticulate, by no means bright in speech or sentiment; a
much-enduring, steady-going, frugal, pious and very desirable people.
The situation of Breslau, all this while, is very critical. Much bottled
emotion in the place; no Austrian Garrison admissible; Authorities dare
not again propose such a thing, though Browne is turning every stone for
it,--lest the emotion burst bottle, and take fire. I have dim account
that Browne has been there, has got 300 Austrian dragoons into the Dom
Insel (CATHEDRAL ISLAND; "Not in the City, you perceive!" says General
Browne: "no, separated by the Oder, on both sides, from the rest of the
City; that stately mass of edifices, and good military post");--and had
hoped to get the suburbs burnt, after all. But the bottled emotion was
too dangerous. For, underground, there are ANTI-Brownes: one especially;
a certain busy Deblin, Shoemaker by craft, whom Friedrich speaks of,
but gives no name to; this zealous Cordwainer, Deblin, and he is not the
only individual of like humor, operates on the guild-brothers and lower
populations: [Preuss, _Thronbesteigung,_ p. 469; _OEuvres de
Frederic,_ ii. 61. ] things seem to be looking worse and worse for the
Authorities, in spite of General Browne and his activities and dragoons.
What the issue will be? Judge if Friedrich wished the Young Dessauer
come! Friedrich's Hussar parties (or Schwerin's, instructed by
Friedrich) go to look if the Breslau suburbs are burnt. Far from it, if
Friedrich knew;--the suburbs merely sit quaking at such a proposal,
and wish the Prussians were here. "But there is time ahead of us," said
everybody at Breslau; "Glogau will take some sieging!" Browne, in the
course of a day or two,--guessing, I almost think, that Glogau was
not to be besieged,--ranked his 300 Austrian dragoons, and rode away;
sending the Austrian State-Papers, in half a score of wagons, ahead of
him. "Archives of Breslau!" cried the general population, at sight
of these wagons; and largely turned out, with emotion again like to
unbottle itself. "Mere Tax-Ledgers, and records of the Government
Offices; come and convince yourselves!" answered the Authorities. And
the ten wagons went on; calling at Ohlau and Brieg, for farther lading
of the like kind. Which wagons the Prussian light-horse chased, but
could not catch. On to Mahren went these Archive-wagons; to Brunn, far
over the Giant Mountains;--did not come back for a long while, nor
to their former Proprietor at all. Tuesday, 27th, Leopold the Young
Dessauer does finally arrive, with his Reserve, at Glogau: never
man more welcome; such a fermentation going on at Breslau,--known to
Friedrich, and what it will issue in, if he delay, not known. With
despatch, Leopold is put into his charge; posts all yielded to him;
orders given,--blockade to be strictness itself, but no fighting if
avoidable; "starvation will soon do it, two months at most," hopes
Friedrich, too sanguine as it proved:--and with earliest daylight on
the 28th, Friedrich's Army, Friedrich himself in the van as usual, is on
march again; at its best speed for Breslau. Read this Note for Jordan:--
FRIEDRICH TO M. JORDAN, AT BERLIN.
"HERRENDORF, 27th Dec. 1740.
"SIEUR JORDAN,--I march to-morrow for Breslau; and shall be there in
four days [three, it happened; there rising, as would seem, new reason
for haste]. You Berliners [of the 24th last] have a spirit of prophecy,
which goes beyond me. In fine, I go my road; and thou wilt shortly see
Silesia ranked in the list of our Provinces. Adieu; this is all I have
time to tell thee. Religion [Silesian Protestantism, and Breslau's
Cordwainer], religion and our brave soldiers will do the rest.
"Tell Maupertuis I grant those Pensions he proposes for his
Academicians; and that I hope to find good subjects for that dignity in
the Country where I am, withal. Give him my compliments.
"FREDERIC."
The march was of the swiftest,--swifter even than had been
expected;--which, as Silesia is all ringing glass, becomes more
achievable than lately. But certain regiments outdid themselves in
marching; "in three marches, near upon seventy miles,"--with their
baggage jingling in due proximity. Through Glasersdorf, thence through
Parchwitz, Neumarkt, Lissa, places that will be better known to us;--on
Saturday, last night of the Year, his Majesty lodged at a Schloss called
Pilsnitz, five miles to west of Breslau; and van-ward regiments, a good
few, quartered in the Western and Southern suburbs of Breslau itself;
suburbs decidedly glad to see them, and escape conflagration. The
Town-gates are hermetically shut;--plenty of emotion bottled in the
100,000 hearts within. The sentries on the walls presented arms; nay,
it is affirmed, some could not help exclaiming, "WILKOMMEN, IHR LIEBEN
HERREN (Welcome, dear Sirs)!" [_Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 534.]
Colonel Posadowsky (active Horse Colonel whom we have seen before,
who perhaps has been in Breslau before) left orders "at the Scultet
Garden-House," that all must be ready and the rooms warmed, his
Majesty intending to arrive here early on the morrow. Which happened
accordingly; Majesty alighting duly at said Garden-House, near by the
Schweidnitz Gate,--I fancy almost before break of day.