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
Olmutz is an ancient pleasant little City, in the Plains of Mahren,
romantic, indistinct to the English mind; with Domes, with Steeples
eminent beyond its size,--population little above 10,000 souls;--has its
Prince-Archbishop and ecclesiastic outfittings, with whom Friedrich
has lodged in his time. City which trades in leather, and Russian and
Moldavian droves of oxen. Memorable to the Slavic populations for its
grand Czech Library, which was carried away by the Swedes, happily into
thick night; [To Stralsund (1645), "and has not since been heard of."]
also for that poor little Wenzel of theirs (last heir of the Bohemian
Czech royalties, whom no reader has the least memory of) being killed
on the streets here;--uncertain, to this day, by whom, though for whose
benefit that dagger-stroke ended is certain enough; [Supra, vol. v. p.
118.]--poor little Wenzel's dust lies under that highest Dome, of
the old Cathedral yonder, if anybody thought of such a thing in hot
practical times. Poor Lafayette, too, lodged here in prison, when the
Austrians seized him. City trades in leather and live stock, we said;
has much to do with artillery, much with ecclesiastry;--and Friedrich
besieged it, for seven weeks, in the hot summer days of 1758, to no
purpose. Friedrich has been in Olmiitz more than once before; his
Schwerin once took it in a single day, and it was his for months, in the
old Moravian-Foray time: but the place is changed now; become an arsenal
or military storehouse of Austria; strongly fortified, and with a
Captain in it, who distinguishes himself by valiant skill and activity
on this occasion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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