History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 05Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 05
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
1726.)] "We will wait, we will wait!" thinks his Prussian Majesty:--"Who
knows?"
"But then Julich and Berg!" urges he always; "Britannic Majesty and
the Blitz Franzosen were to secure me the reversion there. That was
the essential point!"--For this too Excellenz has a remedy; works out
gradually a remedy from headquarters, the amiable dexterous man: "Kaiser
will do the like, your Majesty; Kaiser himself will secure it you!"--In
brief, some three months after Seckendorf's instalment as Kaiser's
Minister, not yet five months since his appearance in the Schlossplatz
that May evening,--it is now Hunting-season, and we are at Wusterhausen;
Majesty, his two Black-Artists and the proper satellites on both sides
all there,--a new and opposite Treaty, in extreme privacy, on the 12th
of October, 1726, is signed at that sequestered Hunting-Schloss: "Treaty
of Wusterhausen" so called; which was once very famous and mysterious,
and caused many wigs to wag. Wigs to wag, in those days especially, when
knowledge of it was first had; the rather as only half knowledge could
be had of it;--or can, mourns Dryasdust, who has still difficulties
about some "secret articles" in the Document. [Buchholz, i. 94 n.]
Courage, my friend; they are now of no importance to any creature.
The essential purport of this Treaty, [Given IN EXTENSO (without the
secret articles) in Forster, iv. 159-166.] legible to all eyes, is,
"That Friedrich Wilhelm silently drops the Hanover Treaty and Blitz
Franzosen; and explicitly steps over to the Kaiser's side; stipulates to
assist the Kaiser with so many thousand, if attacked in Germany by any
Blitz Franzose or intrusive Foreigner whatever. In return for which, the
Kaiser, besides assisting Prussia in the like case with a like quantity
of thousands, engages, in circuitous chancery language, To be helpful,
and humanly speaking effectual, in that grand matter of Julich and
Berg;--somewhat in the following strain: 'To our Imperial mind it does
appear the King of Prussia has manifest right to the succession in
Julich and Berg; right grounded on express ERBVERGLEICH of 1624, not to
speak of Deeds subsequent: the Imperial mind, as supreme judge of
such matters in the Reich, will not fail to decide this Cause soon and
justly, should it come to that. But we hope it may take a still better
course: for the Imperial mind will straightway set about persuading
Kur-Pfalz to comply peaceably; and even undertakes to have something
done, that way, before six months pass.'" [Art. v. in Forster, ubi
supra.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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