History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 21Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 21
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
"BERLIN, TUESDAY, 7th DECEMBER, 1779," says Rannsleben (let him tell it
again in his own words), "the ACTA, which had arrived from Custrin IN RE
Miller Arnold and his Wife VERSUS Landrath von Gersdorf, as also those,
in the same matter, VERSUS Count von Schmettau, were assigned to me, to
be reported on QUAM PRIMUM;--our President von Rebeur," President of
the Supreme KAMMERGERICHT (King's-Chamber Tribunal, say Exchequer High
Court, or COLLEGIUM), whereof I have the honor to be one of the Seven
Judges, or RATHS,--"our President von Rebeur enjoining me to make such
utmost despatch that my Report on both these sets of Papers might be
read to the assembled Court next day; whereby said Court might then and
there be enabled to pronounce judgment on the same, I at once set to
work; went on with it all night; and on the morrow I brought both my
Reports (RELATIONES),"--one referring to the Gersdorf, the other to
the Schmettau part of the suit,--"one of six sheets, the other of two
sheets, to the Kammergericht; where both RELATIONES were read. There
were present, besides me, the following six members of the COLLEGIUM:
President von Rebeur, Raths Uhl, Friedel, Kircheisen, Graun, Gassler.
"Appellant," as we all know, "was Miller Arnold; and along with the ACTA
were various severe Cabinet-Orders, in which the King, who had taken
quite particular notice of the Case, positively enjoined, That Miller
Arnold should have justice done him. The King had not, however, given
formally any authoritative Decision of his own (KEINEN EIGENTLICHEN
MACHTSPRUCH GETHAN)," which might have given us pause, though not
full-stop by any means: "but, in his Order to the Kammergericht, had
merely said, we were to decide with the utmost despatch, and then at
once inform his Majesty how." With the speed of light or of thought,
Rannsleben hardly done reading, this Kammergericht decided,--it is well
known how: "In the King's name; right in every particular, you Custrin
Gentlemen;--which be so good as publish to parties concerned!"
Report of Kammergericht's Judgment to this effect, for behoof of
Custrin, was at once got under way; and Kammergericht, in regard to his
Majesty, agreed merely to announce the fact in that quarter: "Judgment
arrived at, please your Majesty;--Judgment already under way for
Custrin:"--you, Rannsleben, without saying what the Judgment is, you
again write for us. And Rannsleben does so; writes the above little
Message to his Majesty, "which got to the King's hand, Friday, December
10th. And the same day," continues Rannsleben, "the King despatched
a very severe Cabinet-Order to Minister von Dornberg,"--head of the
Department to which the Kammergericht belongs,--"demanding a Copy of the
Judgment. Which order was at once obeyed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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