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
For, the same day, July 26th, while that was going on at Frankfurt, and
Carteret's return-courier was due in five days, his Britannic Majesty at
Hanau had a splendid visit,--tending not towards Peace with France, but
quite the opposite way. Visit from Prince Karl, with Khevenhuller and
other dignitaries; doing us that honor "till the evening of the 28th."
Quitting their Army,--which is now in these neighborhoods (Broglio well
gone to air ahead of it; Noailles too, at the first sure sniff of it,
having rushed double-quick across the Rhine),--these high Gentlemen have
run over to us, for a couple of days, to "congratulate on Dettingen;"
or, better still, to consult, face to face, about ulterior movements.
"Follow Noailles; transfer the seat of war to France itself? These are
my orders, your Majesty. Combined Invasion of Elsass: what a slash may
be made into France [right handselling of your Carteret Scheme] this
very year!" "Proper, in every case!" answers the Britannic Majesty; and
engages to co-operate. Upon which Prince Karl--after the due reviewing,
dinnering, ceremonial blaring, which was splendid to witness [Anonymous,
_Duke of Cumberland,_ pp. 65, 86.]--hastens back to his Army (now lying
about Baden Durlach, 70,000 strong); and ought to be swift, while the
chance lasts.
HUNGARIAN MAJESTY ANSWERS, IN THE DIET, THAT FRENCH DECLARATION, "MAKE
PEACE, GOOD PEOPLE; I WISH TO BE OUT OF IT!"--IN AN OMINOUS MANNER.
These are fine prospects, in the French quarter, of an equivalent for
Schlesien;--very fine, unless Diana intervene! Diana or not, French
prospects or not, her Hungarian Majesty fastens on Bavaria with uncommon
tightness of fist, now that Bavaria is swept clear; well resolved to
keep Bavaria for equivalent, till better come. Exacts, by her deputy,
Homage from the Population there; strict Oath of Fealty to HER; poor
Kaiser protesting his uttermost, to no purpose; Kaiser's poor Printer
(at Regensburg, which is in Bavaria) getting "tried and hanged" for
printing such Protest! "She draughts forcibly the Bavarian militias
into her Italian Army;" is high and merciless on all hands;--in a word,
throttles poor Bavaria, as if to the choking of it outright. So that
the very Gazetteers in foreign places gave voice, though Bavaria itself,
such a grasp on the throat of it, was voiceless. Seckendorf's poor
Bargain for neutrality as a Bavarian Reich-Army, her Hungarian Majesty
disdains to confirm; to confirm, or even to reject; treats Seckendorf
and his Bavarian Army little otherwise than as a stray dog which she
has not yet shot. And truly the old Feldmarschall lies at Wembdingen,
in most disconsolate moulting condition; little or nothing to live
upon;--the English, generous creatures, had at one time flung him
something, fancying the Armistice might be useful; but now it must be
the French that do it, if anybody! [Adelung, iii. B, 204 ("22d August"),
206, &c.]
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