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 this time, however,--Mollwitz having fallen out, and Belleisle being
evidently on the steps,--his Britannic Majesty recognizes clearly,
and insists upon it, strengthened by his Harringtons and everybody of
discernment, That, nefarious or not, this Friedrich will require to be
bargained with. That, far from breaking in upon him, and partitioning
him (how far from it!), there is no conceivable method of saving the
Celestial Balances till HE be satisfied, in some way. This is the
one step his Britannic Majesty has yet made, out of these his choking
imbroglios; and truly this is one. Hyndford, his best negotiator, is on
the road for Friedrich's Camp; Robinson at Vienna, has been directed to
say and insist, "Bargain with that man; he must be bargained with, if
our Cause of Liberty is to be saved at all?"--
And now, having opened the dust-bin so far, that the reader's fancy
might be stirred without affliction to his lungs and eyes, let us shut
it down again,--might we but hope forever! That is too fond a hope. But
the background or sustaining element made imaginable, the few events
deserving memory may surely go on at a much swifter pace.
Chapter II. -- CAMP OF STREHLEN.
Friedrich's Silesian Camps this Summer, Camp of Strehlen chiefly, were
among the strangest places in the world. Friedrich, as we have often
noticed, did not much pursue the defeated Austrians, at or near
Mollwitz, or press them towards flat ruin in their Silesian business: it
is clear he anxiously wished a bargain without farther exasperation; and
hoped he might get it by judicious patience. Brieg he took, with that
fine outburst of bombardment, which did not last a week: but Brieg
once his, he fell quiet again; kept encamping, here there, in that
Mollwitz-Neisse region, for above three months to come; not doing much,
beyond the indispensable; negotiating much, or rather negotiated with,
and waiting on events. [In Camp of Mollwitz (nearer Brieg than the
Battle-field was) till 28th May (after the Battle seven weeks); then to
Camp at Grotkau (28th May-9th June, twelve days); thence (9th June) to
Friedewalde, Herrnsdorf; to Strehlen (21st June-20th August, nine or
ten weeks in all). See _Helden-Geschichte_, i. 924, ii. 931; Rodenbeck,
Orlich, &c.]
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