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
Bruhl and Polish Majesty's Army, still only about 18,000, have their
apprehensions of such visit: but what can they do? The Saxon Army draws
out into Camp, at sight of this mysterious marching; strong Camp "in the
angle of Elbe and Mulde Rivers;"--then draws in again; being too weak
for use. And is thinking, Menzel informs us, to take post in the stony
labyrinthic Pirna Country: such the advice an Excellency Broglio has
given;--French Excellency, now in Dresden; Marechal de Broglio's Son,
and of little less explosive nature than his Father was. Bruhl
and Polish Majesty, guessing that the hour is come, are infinitely
interested. Interested, not flurried. "Austrian-Russian Anti-Prussian
Covenant!" say Bruhl and Majesty, rather comfortably to themselves: "We
never signed it. WE never would sign anything; what have we to do with
it? Courage; steady; To Pirna, if they come! Are not Excellency Broglio,
and France, and Austria, and the whole world at our back?"
It was full three weeks before Klinggraf's Message of Answer could
arrive at Berlin. Of Friedrich in the interim, launching such a
world-adventure, himself silent, in the midst of a buzzing Berlin,
take these indications, which are luminous enough. Duke Ferdinand
of Brunswick is to head one of the Three "Columns." Duke Ferdinand,
Governor of Magdeburg, is now collecting his Column in that
neighborhood, chiefly at Halle; whitherward, or on what errand, is
profoundly unknown. Unknown even to Ferdinand, except that it is for
actual Service in the Field. Here are two Friedrich Letters (ruggedly
Official, the first of them, and not quite peculiar to Ferdinand), which
are worth reading:--
THE KING TO DUKE FERDINAND OF BRUNSWICK.
"POTSDAM, 15th August, 1756.
"For time of Field-Service I have made the arrangement, That for the
Subaltern Officers of your regiment, over and above their ordinary
Equipage-moneys, there shall, to each Subaltern Officer, and once for
all, be Eight Thalers [twenty-four shillings sterling] advanced. That
sum [eight thalers per subaltern] shall be paid to the Captain of every
Company; and besides this there shall, monthly, Two Thalers be deducted
from the Subaltern's Pay, and be likewise paid over to the Captain:--in
return for which, He is to furnish Free Table for the Subalterns
throughout the Campaign, and so long as the regiment is in the field.
"Of the Two Baggage-carts per Company, the regiment shall take only One,
and leave the other at home. No Officer, let him be who or of what title
he will, Generals not excepted, shall take with him the least of Silver
Plate, not even a silver spoon. Whoever wants, therefore, to keep
table, great or small (TAFEL ODER TISCH), must manage the same with tin
utensils;--without exception, be he who he will.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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