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
From Retzow I learn farther, that Winterfeld, directly on the back of
this Conference, took a Tour to the Bohemian Baths, "To Karlsbad, or
Toplitz, for one's health;" and wandered about a good deal in those
Frontier Mountains of Bohemia, taking notes, taking sketches (not with
a picturesque view); and returned by the Saxon Pirna Country, a strange
stony labyrinth, which he guessed might possibly be interesting soon.
The Saxon Commandant of the Konigstein, lofty Fortress of those parts,
strongest in Saxony, was of Winterfeld's acquaintance: Winterfeld called
on this Commandant; found his Konigstein too high for cannonading those
neighborhoods, but that there was at the base of it a new Work going
on; and that the Saxons were, though languidly, endeavoring to bestir
themselves in matters military. Their entire Army at present is under
20,000; but, in the course of next Winter, they expect to have
it 40,000. Shall be of that force, against Season 1757. No doubt
Winterfeld's gatherings and communications had their uses at Potsdam, on
his getting home from this Tour to Toplitz.
Meanwhile, Klinggraf has had his Audience at Vienna; and has sped as
ill as could have been expected. The Answer given was of supercilious
brevity; evasive, in effect null, and as good as answering, That there
is no answer. Two Accounts we have, as Friedrich successively had them,
of this famed passage: FIRST, Klinggraf's own, which is clear, rapid,
and stands by the essential; SECOND, an account from the other side of
the scenes, furnished by Menzel of Dresden, for Friedrich's behoof
and ours; which curiously illustrates the foregoing, and confirms the
interpretation Friedrich at once made of it. This is Menzel's account;
in other words, the Saxon Envoy at Vienna's, stolen by Menzel.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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