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
Friedrich, able to get nothing from the Sovereign of Saxony, is reduced
to grasp Saxony itself: and we can observe him doing it; always the
closer, always the more carefully, as the complicacy deepens, and the
obstinacy becomes more dangerous and provoking. What alternative is
there? On first entering Saxony, Friedrich had made no secret that he
was not a mere bird of passage there. At Torgau, there was at once a
"Field-Commissariat" established, with Prussian Officials of eminence to
administer, the Military Chest to be deposited there, and Torgau to be
put in a state of defence. Torgau, our Saxon Metropolis of War-Finance,
is becoming more and more the Metropolis of Saxon Finance in general.
Saxon Officials were liable, from the first, to be suspended, on
Friedrich's order. Saxon Finance-Officials, of all kinds, were from
the first instructed, that till farther notice there must be no
disbursements without King Friedrich's sanction. And, in fact, King
Friedrich fully intends that Saxony is to help him all it can; and that
it either will or else shall, in this dire pressure of perplexity,
which is due in such a degree to the conduct of the Saxon Government for
twelve years past. Would Saxony go with him in any form of consent, how
much more convenient to Friedrich! But Saxony will not; Polish Majesty,
not himself suffering hunger, is obstinate as the decrees of Fate (or as
sheep, when too much put upon), regardless of considerations;--and,
in fine, here is Browne actually afoot; coming to relieve Polish
Majesty!--The Austrians had uncommonly bestirred themselves:--
The activity, the zeal of all ranks, ever since this expedition into
Saxony, and clutching of Saxony by the throat, contemporary witnesses
declare to have been extraordinary. "Horses for Piccolomini's
Cavalry,--they had scarcely got their horses, not to speak of training
them, not to speak of cannon and the heavier requisites, when Schwerin
began marching out of Glatz on Piccolomini. As to the cannon for Browne
and him, draught-cattle seem absolutely unprocurable. Whereupon Maria
Theresa flings open her own Imperial Studs: 'There, yoke these to our
cannon; let them go their swiftest;'--which awoke such an enthusiasm,
that noblemen and peasants crowded forward with their coach-horses and
their cart-horses, to relay Browne, all through Bohemia, at different
stages; and the cannon and equipments move to their places at the
gallop, in a manner," [Archenholtz, i. 24.]--and even Browne, at the
base of the Metal Mountains, has got most of his equipments. And is
astir towards Pirna (Army of 60,000, rumor says), for relief of the
Saxon martyrs. Friedrich's complexities are getting day by day more
stringent.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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