History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 14Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 14
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
"... The King of Prussia told me at Baireuth, on the 13th or 14th of
last month, He was glad our King had sent the Kaiser money;"--useful
that, at any rate; Noailles's 6,000 pounds would not go far. "That he
thought M. le Marechal de Noailles's explanation [of a certain small
rumor, to the disadvantage of Noailles in reference to the Kaiser] was
satisfactory: 'but,' added he, 'it results from all your secret motions
that you are begging Peace from everybody, and there may have been
something in this rumor, after all.'
"He then told me he was going over to Anspach, to see what could be done
for the Common Cause [Kaiser's and Ours]; that he expected to meet the
Bishop of Wurzburg there; and would try to stir the Frankish and Swabian
Circles into some kind of Union. And, at setting off [from Baireuth,
September 16th, on this errand], he promised his Brother-in-law the
Margraf, He would return with great schemes afoot, and even with great
success;" which proved otherwise, to a disappointing degree.
"... The Margraf of Anspach did say he would join a Union of Princes
in favor of the Kaiser, if Prussia gave example. But that was all. The
Bishop of Wurzburg," a feeble old creature, "never appeared at
Anspach, nor even sent an apology; and Seckendorf, with the Imperial
Army"--Seckendorf, caged up at Wembdingen (whom Friedrich drove off
from Anspach, twenty miles, to see and consult), was in a disconsolate
moulting condition, and could promise or advise nothing satisfactory,
during the dinner one took with him. [September 19th, "under a shady
tree, after muster of the troops" (Rodenbeck, p. 93).] Four days running
about on those errands had yielded his Prussian Majesty nothing. "Whilst
he (Prussian Majesty) was on this Anspach excursion, the Margraf of
Baireuth, who is lately made Field-marshal of his Circle, spoke much to
me of present affairs: a young Prince, full of worth and courage, who
loves the French, hates the Austrians,"--and would fain make himself
generally useful. "To whom I suggested this and that" (does your
Lordship observe?), if it could ever come to anything.
"The King of Prussia, on returning to Baireuth [guess, 20th September],
did not speak the least word of business to the Margraf: which much
surprised the latter! He surprised him still more by indicating some
intention to retain forcibly at Berlin the young Duke of Wurtemberg,
under pretext, 'that Madam his Mother intended to have him taken to
Vienna,' for education. To anger this young Duke, and drive his Mother
to despair, was not the method for acquiring credit in the Circle of
Swabia, and getting the Princes brought to unite!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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