History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 17 — John Shaqi
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 17Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 17
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
His own Army, we need not say, is in perfect preparation. The Army--let
us guess, 150,000 regular, or near 200,000 of all arms and kinds
[Archenholtz (i, 8) counts vaguely "160,000" at this date.]--
never was so perfect before or since. Old Captains in it, whom we used
to know, are grayer and wiser; young, whom we heard less of, are grown
veterans of trust. Schwerin, much a Cincinnatus since we last saw
him, has laid down his plough again, a fervid "little Marlborough" of
seventy-two;--and will never see that beautiful Schwerinsburg, and its
thriving woods and farm-fields, any more. Ugly Walrave is not now chief
Engineer; one Balbi, a much prettier man, is. Ugly Walrave (Winterfeld
suspecting and watching him) was found out; convicted of "falsified
accounts," of "sending plans to the Enemy," of who knows all what;--and
sits in Magdeburg (in a thrice-safe prison-cell of his own contriving),
prisoner for life. ["Arrested at Potsdam 12th February, 1748, and after
trial put into the STERN at Magdeburg; sat there till he died, 16th
January, 1773" (_Militalr-Lexikon, _iv. 150-151).] The Old Dessauer
is away, long since; and not the Old alone. Dietrich of Dessau is now
"Guardian to his Nephew," who is a Child left Heir there. Death has been
busy with the Dessauers:--but here is Prince Moritz, "the youngest, more
like his Father than any of them." Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick, Moritz
of Dessau, Keith, Duke of Brunswick-Bevern: no one of these people has
been idle, in the ten years past. Least of all, has the Chief Captain of
them,--whose diligence and vigilance in that sphere, latterly, were not
likely to decline!
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