History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 20Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 20
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
Newfoundland waters, cannot they have a rock to dry their fish on; "Isle
of Miquelon, or the like?" "Not the breadth of a blanket,"--that is
Pitt's private expression, I believe; and for certain, that, in polite
official language, is his inexorable determination. "You shall go home
out of those Countries, Messieurs; America is to be English or YANkee,
not FRANGcee: that has turned out to be the Decree of Heaven; and we
will stand by that."
So that Choiseul soon satisfies himself it will be a hard bargain, this
with Pitt; and turns the more assiduously to the Majesty of Spain (Baby
Carlos, our old friend, who has sore grudges of his own against the
English, standing grievance of Campeachy Logwood, of bitter Naples
reminiscences, and enough else), turns to Baby Carlos, time after
time, with his pathetic "See, your Most Catholic Majesty!" And by rapid
degrees induces Most Catholic Majesty to go wholly into the adventure
with Most Christian Ditto;--and to say, at length, or to let Choiseul
say for him, by way of cautious first-step (15th July, a date worth
remembering, if the reader please): "Might not Most Catholic Majesty be
allowed perhaps to mediate a little in this Business?" "Most Catholic
Majesty!" answers Pitt, with a flash as if from the empyrean: "Who
sent for Most Catholic Majesty?"--and the matter catches fire, totally
explodes, and Spain too declares War; in what way is generally known.
Details are not permitted us. The Catastrophe we shall give afterwards,
and can here say only: FIRST, That old Earl Marischal, Friedrich's
Spanish Envoy, is a good deal in England, coming and going, at this
time,--on that interesting business of the Kintore Inheritance,
doubtless,--and has been beautifully treated. Been pardoned,
disattainted, permitted to inherit,--by the King on the instant, by the
Parliament so soon as possible; [King's Patent is of "30th April, 1760
[DATED 29th May, 1759], Act of Parliament to follow shortly;" "August
16th, 1760, Act having passed, is Marischal's public Presentation to
his Majesty (late Majesty);" Old GAZETTES in _Gentleman's Magazine_ (for
1760), xxx. 201, 392.]--and is of a naturally grateful turn. SECONDLY,
That in the profoundest secrecy, penetrable only to eyes near at hand
and that see in the dark, a celebrated Bourbon Family Compact was signed
(August 15th, 1761, ten days before the digging at Bunzelwitz began), of
which the first news to the Olympian man (conveyed by Marischal, as is
thought) was like--like news of dead Pythons pretending to revive upon
him. And THIRDLY, That, postponing the Catastrophe, and recommending
the above two dates, 15th JULY, 15th AUGUST, to careful readers, we must
hasten to Colberg for the present.
THIRD SIEGE OF COLBERG.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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