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
June 15th, Friedrich has a grand dinner of Generals at Maleschau; and
says, in proposing the first bumper, "Gentlemen, I announce to you,
that, as I never wished to oppress the Queen of Hungary, I have formed
the resolution of agreeing with that Princess, and accepting the
Proposals she has made me in satisfaction of my rights,"--telling them
withal what the chief terms were, and praising my Lord Hyndford for his
great services. Upon which was congratulation, cordial, universal; and,
with full rummers, "Health to the Queen of Hungary!" followed by others
of the like type, "Grand-Duke of Lorraine!" and "The brave Prince Karl!"
especially.
Brevity being incumbent on us, we shall say only that the
Hyndford-Podewils operations had been speeded, day and night; brought to
finis, in the form of Signed Preliminaries, as "Treaty of Breslau,
11th June, 1742;" and had gone to Friedrich's satisfaction in every
particular. Thanks to the useful Hyndford,--to the willing mind of his
Britannic Majesty, once so indignant, but made willing, nay passionately
eager, by his love of Human Liberty and the pressure of events! To
Hyndford, some weeks hence, [2d August (_Helden-Geschichte,_ ii.
729).]--I conclude, on Friedrich's request,--there was Order of the
Thistle sent; and grandest investiture ever seen almost, done by
Friedrich upon Hyndford (Jordan, Keyserling, Schwerin, and the Sword of
State busy in it; Two Queens and all the Berlin firmament looking on);
and, perhaps better still, on Friedrich's part there was gift of a
Silver Dinner-Service; gift of the Royal Prussian Arms (which do enrich
ever since the Shield of those Scottish Carmichaels, as doubtless the
Dinner-Service does their Plate-chest); and abundant praise and honor to
the useful Hyndford, heavy of foot, but sure, who had reached the goal.
This welcome Treaty, signed at Breslau, June 11th, and confirmed by
"Treaty of Berlin, July 28th," in more explicit solemn manner, to the
self-same effect, can be read by him that runs (if compelled to read
Treaties); [In _Helden-Geschichte,_ i. 1061-1064 (Treaty of Breslau),
ib. 1065-1070 (that of Berlin); to be found also in Wenck, Rousset,
Scholl, Adeluug, &c.] the terms, in compressed form, are:--
1. "Silesia, Lower and Upper, to beyond the watershed and the
Oppa-stream,--reserving only the Principality of Teschen, with
pertinents, which used to be reckoned Silesian, and the ulterior
Mountain-tops [Mountain-tops good for what? thought Friedrich, a year or
two afterwards!]--Silesia wholly, within those limits, and furthermore
the County Glatz and its dependencies, are and remain the property of
Friedrich and of his Heirs male or female; given up, and made his, to
all intents and purposes, forevermore. With which Friedrich, to the
like long date, engages to rest satisfied, and claim nothing farther
anywhere.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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