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
"General Wied [not yet come to hand, or even got across Elbe] informs
me, That Prince Albert of Saxony [pushing hither with reinforcement,
sent by Daun] must have crossed Elbe yesterday at Pirna [did not show
face here, with his large reinforcements to them, or what would have
become of us!];--and that for this reason he, Wied, must himself
cross; which he will to-morrow. The same day I am to be joined by
some battalions from General Hulsen; and the day after to-morrow, when
General Wied [coming by Meissen Bridge, it appears] shall have reached
the Katzenhauser, the whole of General Hulsen's troops will join me.
Directly thereupon I shall--" [Schoning, p. 493.] Or no more of
that second Despatch; Friedrich's LETTER IN RESPONSE is better worth
giving:--
"LOWENBERG, 2d November, 1762.
"MY DEAR BROTHER,--The arrival of Kalkreuter [so he persists in calling
him], and of your Letter, my dear Brother, has made me twenty [not to
say forty] years younger: yesterday I was sixty, to-day hardly eighteen.
I bless Heaven for preserving you in health (BONNE SANTE," so we term
escape of lesion in fight); "and that things have passed so happily! You
took the good step of attacking those who meant to attack you; and, by
your good and solid measures (DISPOSITIONS), you have overcome all the
difficulties of a strong Post and a vigorous resistance. It is a service
so important rendered by you to the State, that I cannot enough express
my gratitude, and will wait to do it in person.
"Kalkreuter will explain what motions I--... If Fortune favor our views
on Dresden [which it cannot in the least, at this late season], we shall
indubitably have Peace this Winter or next Spring,--and get honorably
out of a difficult and perilous conjuncture, where we have often seen
ourselves within two steps of total destruction. And, by this which you
have now done, to you alone will belong the honor of having given the
final stroke to Austrian Obstinacy, and laid the foundations of the
Public Happiness, which will be the consequence of Peace.--F." [Ib. iii.
495, 496.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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