History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 19Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 19
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
SERENE HIGHNESS OF WURTEMBERG, AT FULDA (November 30th, 1759), IS JUST
ABOUT "FIRING VICTORIA," AND GIVING A BALL TO BEAUTY AND FASHION, IN
HONOR OF A CERTAIN EVENT;--BUT IS UNPLEASANTLY INTERRUPTED.
November 21st, the very day while Finck was capitulating in the Hills of
Maxen, Duke Ferdinand, busy ever since his Victory at Minden, did, after
a difficult Siege of Munster, Siege by Imhof, with Ferdinand protecting
him, get Munster into hand again, which was reckoned a fine success to
him. Very busy has the Duke been: industriously reaping the fruits
of his Victory at Minden; and this, the conclusive rooting out of the
French from that Westphalian region, is a very joyful thing; and puts
Ferdinand in hopes of driving them over the Mayn altogether. Which some
think he would have done; had not he, with magnanimous oblivion of self
and wishes, agreed to send the Hereditary Prince and those 12,000 to
assist in Friedrich's affairs, looking upon that as the vital point in
these Allied Interests. Friedrich's attempts, we have said, turned out
impossible; nor would the Hereditary Prince and his 12,000, though
a good deal talked about in England and elsewhere, [Walpole, _George
Second,_ iii. 248 (in a sour Opposition tone); &c. &c.] require more
than mention; were it not that on the road thither, at Fulda ("Fulda is
half-way house to Saxony," thinks Ferdinand, "should Pitt and Britannic
Majesty be pleased to consent, as I dare presume they will"), the
Hereditary Prince had, in his swift way, done a thing useful for
Ferdinand himself, and which caused a great emotion, chiefly of
laughter, over the world, in those weeks.
"No Enemy of Friedrich's," says my Note, "is of feller humor than the
Serenity of Wurtemberg, Karl Eugen, Reigning Duke of that unfortunate
Country; for whom, in past days, Friedrich had been so fatherly, and
really took such pains. 'Fatherly? STEP-fatherly, you mean; and for his
own vile uses!' growled the Serenity of Wurtemberg:--always an ominous
streak of gloom in that poor man; streak which is spread now to whole
skies of boiling darkness, owing to deliriums there have been! Enough,
Karl Eugen, after divorcing his poor Wife, had distinguished himself
by a zeal without knowledge, beyond almost all the enemies of
Friedrich;--and still continues in that bad line of industry. His poor
Wife he has made miserable in some measure; also himself; and, in a
degree, his poor soldiers and subjects, who are with him by compulsion
in this Enterprise. The Wurtembergers are Protestants of old type; and
want no fighting against 'the Protestant Hero,' but much the reverse!
Serene Karl had to shoot a good few of these poor people, before they
would march at all; and his procedures were indeed, and continued to be,
of a very crying nature, though his poor Populations took them silently.
Always something of perverse in this Serene Highness; has it, I think,
by kind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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