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
In all the spoken or covenanted points the Treaty was accurately kept:
670,000 pounds, two-thirds of a million very nearly, will, in punctual
promptitude, come to Friedrich's hand, were October here. And in regard
to Ferdinand (a point left silent, this too), Friedrich's expectations
were exceeded, not the contrary, so long as Pitt endured. This is the
Third English-Prussian Treaty of the Seven-Years War, as we said above;
and it is the First that took practical effect: this was followed by
three others, year after year, of precisely the same tenor, which
were likewise practical and punctually kept,--the last of them, "12th
December, 1760," had reference to Subsidy for 1761:--and before another
came, Pitt was out. So that, in all, Friedrich had Four Subsidies;
670,000 pounds x4=2,680,000 pounds of English money altogether:--and it
is computed by some, there was never as much good fighting otherwise had
out of all the 800,000,000 pounds we have funded in that peculiar
line of enterprise. [First Treaty, 16th January, 1756 (is in
_Helden-Geschichte,_ iii. 681), "We will oppose by arms any foreign
Armament entering Germany;" Second Treaty, 11th January, 1757 (never
published till 1802), is in Scholl, iii. 30-32: "one million subsidy,
a Fleet &c." (not KEPT at all); after which, Third Treaty (the FIRST
really issuing in subsidy and performance) is 11th April, 1758 (given in
_Helden-Geschichte,_ v. 17); Fourth (really SECOND), 7th December, 1758
(Ib. v. 752); Fifth (THIRD), 9th November, 1759; Sixth (FOURTH), 12th
December, 1760. See PREUSS, ii. 124 n.]
Pitt had no difficulty with his Parliament, or with his Public, in
regard to this Subsidy; the contrary rather. Seldom, if ever, was
England in such a heat of enthusiasm about any Foreign Man as about
Friedrich in these months since Rossbach and what had followed.
Celebrating this "Protestant Hero," authentic new Champion of
Christendom; toasting him, with all the honors, out of its Worcester and
other Mugs, very high indeed. Take these Three Clippings from the old
Newspapers, omitting all else; and rekindle these, by good inspection
and consideration, into feeble symbolic lamps of an old illumination,
now fallen so extinct.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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