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
By a notable coincidence, precisely while those sword-flourishings go
on at Presburg, Marechal Excellency Belleisle is making his Public Entry
into Frankfurt-on-Mayn: [25th June, 1741 (Adelung, ii. 399).] Frankfurt
too is in cheery emotion; streets populous with Sunday gazers, and
critics of the sublime in spectacle! This is not Belleisle's first
entrance; he himself has been here some time, settling his Household,
and a good many things: but today he solemnly leads in his Countess and
Appendages (over from Metz, where Madame and he officially reside in
common times, "Governor of Metz," one of his many offices);--leads in
Madame, in suitably resplendent manner; to kindle household fire, as it
were; and indicate that here is his place, till he have got a Kaiser
to his mind. Twin Phenomena, these two; going on 500 miles apart;
unconscious of one another, or of what kinship they happen to have!--
EXCELLENCY ROBINSON BUSY IN THE VIENNA HOFRATH CIRCLES, TO PRODUCE A
COMPLIANCE.
Britannic George, both for Pragmatic's sake and for dear Hanover's,
desires much there were a bargain made with Friedrich: How is the
Pragmatic to be saved at all, if Friedrich join France in its Belleisle
machinations, thinks George? And already here is that Camp of Gottin,
glittering in view like a drawn sword pointed at one's throat or at
one's Hanover. Nay, in a month or two hence, as the Belleisle schemes
got above ground in the shape of facts, this desire became passionate,
and a bargain with Prussia seemed the one thing needful. For, alas,
the reader will see there comes, about that time, a second sword (the
Maillebois Army, namely), pointed at one's throat from the French side
of things: so that a Paladin of the Pragmatic, and Hanoverian King of
England, knows not which way to turn! George's sincerity of wish is
perhaps underrated by Friedrich; who indeed knows well enough on which
side George's wishes would fall, if they had liberty (which they have
not), but much overrates "the astucity" of poor George and his English;
ascribing, as is often done, to fine-spun attorneyism what is mere
cunctation, ignorance, negligence, and other forms of a stupidity
perhaps the most honest in the world! By degrees Friedrich understood
better; but he never much liked the English ways of doing business.
George's desire is abundantly sincere, not wholly resting on sublime
grounds; and grows more and more intense every day; but could not be
gratified for a good while yet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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