History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 18Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 18
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
months! There is one Schaffgotsch, Archbishop or head-man of them,
especially, who is now in a bad way. Never was such royal favor; never
such ingratitude, say the Books at wearisome length. Schaffgotsch was
a showy man of quality, nephew of the quondam Austrian Governor, whom
Friedrich, across a good deal of Papal and other opposition, got pushed
into the Catholic Primacy, and took some pains to make comfortable
there,--Order of the Black Eagle, guest at Potsdam, and the
like;--having a kind of fancy for the airy Schaffgotsch, as well
as judging him suitable for this Silesian High-Priesthood, with his
moderate ideas and quality ways,--which I have heard were a little
dissolute withal. To the whole of which Schaffgotsch proved signally
traitorous and ingrate; and had plucked off the Black Eagle (say the
Books, nearly breathless over such a sacrilege) on some public occasion,
prior to Leuthen, and trampled it under his feet, the unworthy fellow.
Schaffgotsch's pathetic Letter to Friedrich, in the new days posterior
to Leuthen, and Friedrich's contemptuous inexorable answer, we could
give, but do not: why should we? O King, I know your difficulties, and
what epoch it is. But, of a truth, your airy dissolute Schaffgotsch, as
a grateful "Archbishop and Grand-Vicar," is almost uglier to me than as
a Traitor ungrateful for it; and shall go to the Devil in his own way!
They would not have him in Austria; he was not well received at Rome;
happily died before long. [Preuss, ii. 113, 114; Kutzen, pp. 12,
155-160, for the real particculars.] Friedrich was not cruel to
Schaffgotsch or the others, contemptuously mild rather; but he knew
henceforth what to expect of them, and slightly changed this and that in
his Silesian methods in consequence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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