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
"Then, in Autumn, some remnant more of Prussian regulars arrive,
disposable now for that service; upon which the Swedes are driven over
Peene again (quite sure to be driven, when the River with its quagmires
freezes); lose Anklam Redoubt, Peene-munde Redoubt; lose Demmin, Wollin;
are followed into Swedish Pommern, oftenest to the gates of Stralsund,
and are locked up there, there and in Rugen adjoining, till a new
season arrive."--This year (1757-1758), Lehwald, on turning the key of
Stralsund, might have done a fine feat; frost having come suddenly, and
welded Rugen to mainland. "What is to hinder you from starving them into
surrender?" signifies Friedrich, hastily: "Besiege me Stralsund!" Which
Lehwald did; but should have been quicker about it; or the thaw came
too soon, and admitted ships with provision again. Upon which Lehwald
resigned, to a General Graf von Dohna; and went home, as grown too old:
and Dohna kept them bottled there till the usual Russian Advent (deep in
June); by which time, what with limited stockfish diet, what with
sore labor (breaking of the ice, whenever frost reappeared) and other
hardship, more than half of them had died.--"Every new season there
was a new General tried; but without the least improvement. There
was mockery enough, complaint enough; indignant laughter in Stockholm
itself; and the Dalecarlians thought of revolting: but the Senator
Committee-men held firm, ballasted by French gold, for four years.
"The Prussian Militias are a fine trait of the matter; about fifteen
regiments in different parts;--about five in Pommern, which set
the example; which were suddenly raised last Autumn by the STANDE
themselves, drilled in Stettin continually, while the Swedes were
under way, and which stood ready for some action, under veterans of the
squirearchy, when the Swedes arrived. They were kept up through the
War. The STANDE even raised a little fleet, [Archenholtz, i. 110.] river
fleet and coast fleet, twelve gunboats, with a powerful carronade in
each, and effective men and captain; a great check on plundering and
coast mischief, till the Swedes, who are naval, at last made an effort
and destroyed them all."
Friedrich was very sensible of these procedures on the part of his
STANDE; and perhaps readers are not prepared for such, or for others
of the like, which we could produce elsewhere, in a Country without
Constitution to speak of. Friedrich raises no new taxes,--except upon
himself exclusively, and these to the very blood:--Friedrich gets no
Life-and-Fortune Addresses of the vocal or printed sort, but only of
the acted. Very much the preferable kind, where possible, to all parties
concerned. These poor militias and flotillas one cheerfully puts on
record; cheerfully nothing else, in regard to such a Swedish War;--nor
shall we henceforth insult the human memory by another word upon it that
is not indispensable.
OF THE ENGLISH SUBSIDY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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