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
"Whereupon her Majesty, to avoid actual mistreatment, had been obliged
to"--to become passive, and, no Keys being procurable from her, see
a smith with his picklocks give these Prussians admission.
Legation-Secretary Plessmann was there (Menzel one fancies sitting,
rather pale, in an adjacent room [Supra, p. 266.]); and they knew what
to do. Their smith opens the required Box for them (one of several "all
lying packed for Warsaw," says Friedrich); from which soon taking
what they needed, Wangenheim and Wylich withdrew with their booty, and
readers have the fruit of it to this day. "Which unheard-of procedure,
be pleased, your Excellencies, to report to your respective Courts."
[_Gesammelte Nachrichten, _i. 222 (or "No. 26" of that Collection);
_OEuvres de Frederic,_ iv. 83.]
Poor old Lady, what a situation! And I believe she never saw her poor
old Husband again. The day he went to Pirna (morning of yesterday,
September 9th, Friedrich entering in the evening), these poor Spouses
had, little dreaming of it, taken leave of one another forevermore. Such
profit lies in your Bruhl. Kings and Queens that will be governed by a
Jesuit Guarini, and a Bruhl of the Twelve Tailors, sometimes pay dear
for it. They, or their representatives, are sure to do so. Kings and
Queens,--yes, and if that were all: but their poor Countries too? Their
Countries;--well, their Countries did not hate Beelzebub, in his various
shapes, ENOUGH. Their Countries should have been in watch against
Beelzebub in the shape of Bruhls;--watching, and also "praying" in a
heroic manner, now fallen obsolete in these impious times!
Chapter V.--FRIEDRICH BLOCKADES THE SAXONS IN PIRNA COUNTRY.
Friedrich reckons himself to have 65,000 men in Saxony. Schwerin is
issuing from Silesia, through the Glatz Mountains, for Bohemia, at the
head of 40,000. The Austrian force is inferior in quantity, and far from
ready:--Two "Camps" in Bohemia they have; the chief one under
Browne (looking, or intending, this Saxon way), and a smaller under
Piccolomini, in the Konigshof-Kolin region:--if well run into from front
and rear, both Browne and Piccolomini might be beautifully handled; and
a gash be cut in Austria, which might incline her to be at peace again!
Nothing hinders but this paltry Camp of the Saxons; itself only 18,000
strong, but in a Country of such strength. And this does hinder,
effectually while it continues: "How march to Bohemia, and leave the
road blocked in our rear?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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