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
"BRESLAU, 9th SEPTEMBER,... Received a message to meet him,"--HIM,
for we now speak in the singular number, though still without naming
Goltz,--"one of the persons I mentioned in my former Despatch: in a
very unsuspected place; for we have agreed to avoid all appearance of
familiarity. He told me he had received a Letter this morning from
the Camp,"--Prussian Majesty's Camp, or Bivouac (in the Munsterberg
Hill-Country), on that march towards Woitz, for crossing the Neisse upon
Neipperg, which proved impracticable,--"and that he could with pleasure
tell me that the King agreed to this last trial, although he would not,
nor could appear in it.... Then this person read to me a Paper, but I
could not see whether it was the King's hand or not; for when I desired
to take a copy, he said he could not show me the original; but dictated
as follows:--
"'Toute la Basse Silesie, la riviere de Neisse pour limite, la ville de
Neisse a nous, aussi bien que Glatz; de l'autre cote de l'Oder l'ancien
limite entre les Duches de Brieg et d'Oppeln. Namslau a nous. Les
affaires de religion IN STATU QUO. Point de dependance de la Boheme;
cession eternelle. En echange nous n'irons pas plus loin. Nous
assiegerons Neisse PRO FORMA: le commandant se rendra et sortira. Nous
prendrons les quartiers tranquillement, et ils pourront mener leur Armee
oh ils voudront. Que tout cela soit fini en douze jours.'" That is to
say:--
"'The whole of Lower Silesia, Neisse Town included; Neisse River for
boundary:--Glatz withal. Beyond the Oder, for the Duchies of Brieg and
Oppeln the ancient limits. Namslau ours. Affairs of Religion to continue
IN STATU QUO. No dependence [feudal tie or other, as there used to
be] on Bohemia; cession of Silesia to be absolute and forever.--We, in
return, will proceed no farther. We will besiege Neisse for form;
the Commandant shall surrender and depart. We will pass quietly into
winter-quarters; and the Austrian Army may go whither it will. Bargain
to be concluded within twelve days.'" [Coxe (iii. 272) gives this
Translation, not saying whence he had it.]--Can his Excellency Hyndford
get Vienna, get Feldmarschall Reipperg with power from Vienna, to
accept: Yes or No? Excellency Hyndford thinks, Yes; will try his very
utmost!--
"He (Goltz) then tore the Paper in very small pieces; and he repeated
again, that if the affair should be discovered, both the King and he
were determined to deny it.... 'But how about engagements with regard to
my Master's German Dominions; not a word about that?' He answered, 'You
have not the least to fear from France;' protested the King of Prussia's
great regard for his Majesty of England, &c. I told him these fine words
did not satisfy me; and that if this affair should succeed, I expected
there should be some stipulation." [_Hyndford Papers,_ fol. 115.]
Yes; and came, about a fortnight hence, "waylaying his Majesty" to get
one,--as readers saw above.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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