History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 18 — John Shaqi
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
It is computed that there are arrayed against this one King, under
their respective Kings, Empress-Queens, Swedish Senates, Catins and
Pompadours, populations to the amount of above 100 millions,--in after
stages, I remember to have seen "150 millions" loosely given as the
exaggerated cipher. Of armed soldiers actually in the field against him
(against Hanover and him), in 1757, there are, by strict count, 430,000.
Friedrich's own Dominions at this time contain about Five Millions of
Population; of Revenue somewhat less than Two Millions sterling. New
taxes he cannot legally, and will not, lay on his People. His SCHATZ
(ready-money Treasure, or Hoard yearly accumulating for such end) is, I
doubt not, well filled,--express amount not mentioned. Of drilled men he
has, this Year, 150,000 for the field; portioned out thriftily,--as well
beseems, against Four Invasions coming on him from different points. In
the field, 150,000 soldiers, probably the best that ever were; and
in garrison, up and down (his Country being, by nature, the least
defensible of all Countries), near 40,000, which he reckons of inferior
quality. So stands the account. [Stenzel, iv. 308, 306, v. 39; Ranke,
iii. 415; Preuss, ii, 389, 43, 124; &c. &c.;--substantially true, I
doubt not; but little or nothing of it so definite and conclusively
distinct as it ought, in all items, to have been by this time,--had poor
Dryasdust known what he was doing.] These are, arithmetically precise,
his resources,--PLUS only what may lie in his own head and heart, or
funded in the other heads and hearts, especially in those 150,000,
which he and his Fathers have been diligently disciplining, to good
perfection, for four centuries come the time.
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