History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 06Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 06
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
"Whereupon I said, 'I could not conceive any reason why I was the only
person who could not be admitted to audience. That, however, as the
Ministers of this Court were pleased to authorize him, Herr von Hartoff,
to receive my Proposals, I was obliged to tell him,' as the first or
preliminary point of my Commission, 'I had received orders to be very
pressing with the said Ministers of this Court, for an Answer to
a Letter from the Prussian Ministry, lately delivered by Herr
Legationsrath von Reichenbach; and finding that the said Answer was not
yet finished, I would stay two days for it, that I might be more secure
of getting it. But that then I should come to put them in mind of
it, and desire audience in order to acquit myself of the REST of my
Commission.'
"The Privy Secretary drew up what I said in writing. Immediately
afterwards he reported it to the Ministry, and brought me this answer:
'That the Ministers of this Court would be as good as their word of
yesterday, and answer the above-mentioned Letter with all possible
expedition.' After which we parted."
No. 3.--"AT HANOVER, 17th AUGUST, 1729
"At two in the afternoon, this day, Herr von Hartoff came to my house;
and let me know 'He had business of consequence from the Ministry, and
that he would return at five.' By my direction he was told, 'I should
expect him.'
"At the time appointed he came; and told me, 'That the Ministers of the
Court, understanding from him that I designed to ask audience to-morrow,
did not doubt but my business would be to remind them of the
Answer which I had demanded yesterday and the day before. That such
applications were not customary among sovereign Princes; that they, the
Ministers; 'dared not treat farther in that affair with me; that they
desired me not to mention it to them again till they had received
directions from his Britannic Majesty, to whom they had made their
report; and that as soon as they received their instructions, the result
of these should be communicated to me.'
"To this I replied, 'That I did not expect the Ministers of this Court
would refuse me the audience which I designed to ask to-morrow; and that
therefore I would not fail of being at the Council-chamber at eleven,
next day,' according to bargain, 'to know their answer to the rest of
my Proposals.'--Secretary Von Hartoff would not hear of this resolution;
and assured me positively he had orders to listen to nothing more on the
subject from me. After which he left me?"
No. 4.--"AT HANOVER, 18th AUGUST, 1729.
"At eleven, this day, I went to the Council-chamber, for the third time;
and desired Secretary Hartoff 'To prevail with the Ministry to allow me
to speak with them, and communicate what the King of Prussia had ordered
me to propose.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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