History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 13Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 13
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
Among the Austrian Prisoners, there was a General Pallandt, mortally
wounded too; whom Friedrich, according to custom, treated with his best
humanity, though all help was hopeless to poor Pallandt. Calling one
day at Pallandt's sick-couch, Friedrich was so sympathetic, humane and
noble, that Pallandt was touched by it; and said, "What a pity your
noble Majesty and my noble Queen should ruin one another, for a set
of French intruders, who play false even to your Majesty!" "False?"
Friedrich inquires farther: Pallandt, a man familiar at Court, has seen
a Letter from Fleury to the Queen of Hungary, conclusive as to Fleury's
good faith; will undertake, if permitted, to get his Majesty a sight
of it. Friedrich permits; the Fleury letter comes; to the effect: "Make
peace with us, O Queen; with your Prussian neighbor you shall make--what
suits you!" Friedrich read; learned conclusively, what perhaps he
had already as good as known otherwise; and drew the inference.
[_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii. 633; Hormayr, _Anemonen,_ ii. 186; Adelung,
iii. A, 149 n.] Actual copy of this letter the most ardent Gazetteer
curiosity could not attain to, at that epoch; but the Pallandt
story seems to have been true;--and as to the Fleury letter in such
circumstances, copies of various Fleury letters to the like purport are
still public enough; and Fleury's private intentions, already guessed
at by Friedrich, are in our time a secret to nobody that inquires about
them.
Certain enough, Peace with Friedrich is now on the way; and cannot well
linger:--what prospect has Austria otherwise? Its very supplies from
England will be stopped. Hyndford redoubles his diligence; Britannic
Majesty reiterates at Vienna: "Did not I tell you, Madam; there is no
hope or possibility till these Prussians are off our hands!" To which
her Hungarian Majesty, as the bargain was, now sorrowfully assents;
sorrowfully, unwillingly,--and always lays the blame on his Britannic
Majesty afterwards, and brings it up again as a great favor she had done
HIM. "Did not I give up my invaluable Silesia, the jewel of my crown,
for you, cruel Britannic Majesty with the big purse, and no heart
to speak of?" This she urges always, on subsequent occasions; the
high-souled Lady; reproachful of the patient, big-pursed little
Gentleman, who never answers as he might, "For ME, Madam? Well--!" In
short, Hyndford, Podewils and the Vienna Excellencies are busy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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