History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 09Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 09
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
Poor Stanislaus, in the beginning of July, got across into Preussen, as
we intimated; and there he continued, safe against any amount of
rubles and Feldmarschalls, entreaties and menaces. At Angerburg, on the
Prussian frontier, he found a steadfast veteran, Lieutenant-General von
Katte, Commandant in those parts (Father of a certain poor Lieutenant,
whom we tragically knew of long ago!)--which veteran gentleman received
the Fugitive Majesty, [_Militair-Lexikon,_ ii. 254.] with welcome in the
King's name, and assurances of an honorable asylum till the times and
roads should clear again for his Fugitive Majesty. Fugitive Majesty,
for whom the roads and times were very dark at present, went to
Marienwerder; talked of going "to Pillau, for a sea-passage," of
going to various places; went finally to Konigsberg, and there--with
a considerable Polish Suite of Fugitives, very moneyless, and very
expensive, most of them, who had accumulated about him--set up his
abode. There for almost two years, in fact till this War ended,
the Fugitive Polish Majesty continued; Friedrich Wilhelm punctually
protecting him, and even paying him a small Pension (50 pounds a
month),--France, the least it could do for the Grandfather of France,
allowing a much larger one; larger, though still inadequate. France has
left its Grandfather strangely in the lurch here; with "100,000 rubles
on his head." But Friedrich Wilhelm knows the sacred rites, and will
do them; continues deaf as a door-post alike to the menaces and the
entreaties of Kaiser and Czarina; strictly intimating to Munnich, what
the Laws of Neutrality are, and that they must be observed. Which, by
his Majesty's good arrangements, Munnich, willing enough to the contrary
had it been feasible, found himself obliged to comply with. Prussian
Majesty, like a King and a gentleman, would listen to no terms about
dismissing or delivering up, or otherwise, failing in the sacred rites
to Stanislaus; but honorably kept him there till the times and routes
cleared themselves again. [Forster, ii. 132, 134-136.] A plain piece
of duty; punctually done: the beginning of it falls here in the Camp at
Philipsburg, July-August 1734; in May, 1736, we shall see some glimpse
of the end!--
His Prussian Majesty in Camp at Philipsburg--so distinguished a
volunteer, doing us the honor to encamp here--"was asked to all the
Councils-of-war that were held," say the Books. And he did attend, the
Crown-Prince and he, on important occasions: but, alas, there was, so to
speak, nothing to be consulted of. Fascines and hurdles lay useless;
no attempt was made to relieve Philipsburg. On the third day after his
Majesty's arrival, July 18th, Philipsburg, after a stiff defence of
six weeks, growing hopeless of relief, had to surrender;--French then
proceeded to repair Philipsburg, no attempt on Eugene's part to molest
them there. If they try ulterior operations on this side the River, he
counter-tries; and that is all.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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