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
"DRESDEN, 10th SEPTEMBER, 1756. The Queen's Majesty, this forenoon, has
called to her all the Foreign Ministers now at Dresden; and in Highest
Own Person has signified to us, How, the Prussian intrusions and
hostilities being already known, Highest said Queen's Majesty would now
simply state what had farther taken place this morning:--
"Highest said Queen's Majesty, to wit, had, in her own name, requested
the King of Prussia, in conformity with his assurances [by Keith,
yesternight] of paying every regard for Her and the Royal
Family; To remove the Prussian Sentries pacing about in those
Corridors,"--Corridors which lead to the Secret Archives, important to
some of us!--"Instead of which, the said King had not only doubled
his Sentries there; but also, by an Officer, demanded the Keys of the
Archive-apartment [just alluded to]! And as the Queen's Majesty, for
security of all writings there, offered to seal the Door of it herself,
and did so, there and then,--the said Officer had so little respect,
that he clapped his own seal thereon too.
"Nor was he content therewith,"--not by any means!--"but the same
Officer [having been with Wylich, Commandant here] came back, a short
time after, and made for opening of the Door himself. Which being
announced to the Queen's Majesty, she in her own person (HOCHSTDIESELBE,
Highest-the-Same) went out again; and standing before the Door, informed
him, 'How Highest-the-Same had too much regard to his Prussian Majesty's
given assurance, to believe that such order could proceed from the
King.' As the Officer, however, replied, 'That he was sorry to have such
an order to execute; but that the order was serious and precise; and
that he, by not executing it, would expose himself to the greatest
responsibility," Her Majesty continued standing before the Door; and
said to the Officer, 'If he meant to use force, he might upon Her make
his beginning.'" There is for you, Herr Wangenheim!--
"Upon which said Officer had gone away, to report anew to the King [I
think, only to Wylich the Commandant; King now a dozen miles off, not
so easily reported to, and his mind known]; and in the mean while Her
Majesty had called to her the Prussian and English Ambassadors
[Mahlzahn and Stormont; sorry both of them, but how entirely
resourceless,--especially Mahlzahn!], and had represented and
repeated to them the above; beseeching that by their remonstrances and
persuasions they would induce the King of Prussia, conformably with his
given assurance, to forbear. Instead, however, of any fruit from such
remonstrances and urgencies, final Order came, 'That, Queen's Majesty's
own Highest Person notwithstanding, force must be used.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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