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
Polish Majesty's Head-quarters are at Struppen, well in the centre
of the Saxon lines; "goes always to the Konigstein to sleep." Polish
Majesty's own table is, by Friedrich's permission for that special
object, supplied AD LIBITUM: but the common men were at once put
on short allowance, which grows always the shorter. Polish Majesty
corresponds with Friedrich, as we saw; and above all, sends burning
Messages to Austria, to France, to every European Court, charged with
mere shrieks: "Help me; a robber has me!" In which sense, Excellencies
of all kinds, especially one Lord Stormont, the English Excellency,
daily running out from Dresden to Gross-Sedlitz, are passionately
industrious with Friedrich; who is eager enough to comply, were there
any safe means possible. But there are none. Unfortunately, too,
it appears the Austrians are astir; Feldmarschall Browne actually
furbishing himself at Prag yonder with an eye hitherward, and
extraordinary haste and spirit shown: which obliges Friedrich to rise
in his demands; ovine obstinacy, on the other side, naturally increasing
from the same cause.
"Polish Majesty, we say, has liberty to bring in proviant for self and
suite, rigorously for no mortal more; and he lives well, in the culinary
sense,--surely for most part 'in his dressing-gown,' too, poor loose
collapsed soul! Bruhl and he have plenty of formal business: but their
one real business is that of crying, by estafettes and every conceivable
method, to Austria, 'Get us out of this!' To which Austria has answered,
'Yes; only patience, and be steady!'--Friedrich's head-quarters are at
Sedlitz; and the negotiating and responding which he has, transcends
imagination. His first hope was, Polish Majesty might be persuaded to
join with him;--on the back of that, certainty, gradually coming, that
Polish Majesty never would; and that the Austrians would endeavor a
rescue, were they once ready. Starvation, or the Austrians, which will
be first here? is the question; and Friedrich studies to think it will
be the former. At all events, having settled on the starvation method,
and seen that all his posts are right, we perceive he does not stick
close by Sedlitz; but runs now hither now thither; is at Torgau, where
an important establishment, kind of New Government for Saxony, on the
Finance side, is organizing itself. What his work with Ambassadors
was, and how delicate the handling needed, think!"--Here is another
Clipping:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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