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History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 14
T >> Thomas Carlyle >> History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 14 Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 Prepared by D.R. Thompson
History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 14
by Thomas Carlyle
BOOK XIV.
THE SURROUNDING EUROPEAN WAR DOES NOT END.
August, 1742-July, 1744.
Chapter I.
FRIEDRICH RESUMES HIS PEACEABLE PURSUITS.
Friedrich's own Peace being made on such terms, his wish and hope
was, that it might soon be followed by a general European one;
that, the live-coal, which had kindled this War, being quenched,
the War itself might go out. Silesia is his; farther interest in
the Controversy, except that it would end itself in some fair
manner, he has none. "Silesia being settled," think many, thinks
Friedrich for one, "what else of real and solid is there
to settle?"
The European Public, or benevolent individuals of it everywhere,
indulged also in this hope. "How glorious is my King, the youngest
of the Kings and the grandest!" exclaims Voltaire (in his Letters
to Friedrich, at this time), and re-exclaims, till Friedrich has to
interfere, and politely stop it: "A King who carries in the one
hand an all-conquering sword, but in the other a blessed olive-
branch, and is the Arbiter of Europe for Peace or War!" "Friedrich
the THIRD [so Voltaire calls him, counting ill, or misled by
ignorance of German nomenclature], Friedrich the Third, I mean
Friedrich the Great (FREDERIC LE GRAND)," will do this, and do
that;--probably the first emergence of that epithet in human
speech, as yet in a quite private hypothetic way. [Letters of
Voltaire, in OEuvres de Frederic, xxii. 100,
&c.: this last Letter is of date "July, 1742"--almost contemporary
with the" Jauer Transparency" noticed above.] Opinions about
Friedrich's conduct, about his talents, his moralities, there were
many (all wide of the mark): but this seemed clear, That the weight
of such a sword as his, thrown into either scale, would be
decisive; and that he evidently now wished peace. An unquestionable
fact, that latter! Wished it, yes, right heartily; and also strove
to hope,--though with less confidence than the benevolent outside
Public, as knowing the interior of the elements better.
These hopes, how fond they were, we now all know. True, my friends,
the live-coal which kindled this incendiary whirlpool (ONE of the
live-coals, first of them that spread actual flame in these
European parts, and first of them all except Jenkins's Ear) is out,
fairly withdrawn; but the fire, you perceive, rages not the less.
The fire will not quench itself, I doubt, till the bitumen, sulphur
and other angry fuel have run much lower! Austria has fighting men
in abundance, England behind it has guineas; Austria has got
injuries, then successes:--there is in Austria withal a dumb pride,
quite equal in pretensions to the vocal vanity of France, and far
more stubborn of humor. The First Nation of the Universe, rashly
hurling its fine-throated hunting-pack, or Army of the Oriflamme,
into Austria,--see what a sort of badgers, and gloomily indignant
bears, it has awakened there! Friedrich had to take arms again;
and an unwelcome task it was to him, and a sore and costly.
We shall be obliged (what is our grand difficulty in this History)
to note, in their order, the series of European occurrences;
and, tedious as the matter now is, keep readers acquainted with the
current of that big War; in which, except Friedrich broad awake,
and the Ear of Jenkins in somnambulancy, there is now next to
nothing to interest a human creature.
It is an error still prevalent in England, though long since
exploded everywhere else, that Friedrich wanted new wars, "new
successful robberies," as our Gazetteers called them; and did
wilfully plunge into this War again, in the hope of again doing a
stroke in that kind. English readers, on consulting the facts a
little, will not hesitate to sweep that notion altogether away.
Shadow of basis, except in their own angry uninformed imaginations,
they will find it never had; and that precisely the reverse is
manifest in Friedrich's History. A perfectly clear-sighted
Friedrich; able to discriminate shine from substance;
and gravitating always towards the solid, the actual. That of
"GLOIRE," which he owns to at starting, we saw how soon it died
out, choked in the dire realities. That of Conquering Hero, in the
Macedonia's-madman style, was at all times far from him, if the
reader knew it,--perhaps never farther from any King who had such
allurements to it, such opportunities for it. This his First
Expedition to Silesia--a rushing out to seize your own stolen
horse, while the occasion answered--was a voluntary one; produced,
we may say, by Friedrich's own thought and the Invisible Powers.
But the rest were all purely compulsory,--to defend the horse he
had seized. Clear necessities, and Powers very Visible, were the
origin of all his other Expeditions and Warlike Struggles, which
lasted to the end of his life.
That recent "Moravian Foray;" the joint-stock principle in War
matters; and the terrible pass a man might reduce himself to, at
that enormous gaming-table of the gods, if he lingered there:
think what considerations these had been for him! So that "his look
became FAROUCHE," in the sight of Valori; and the spectre of Ruin
kept him company, and such hell-dogs were in chase of him;--till
Czaslau, when the dice fell kind again! All this had been didactic
on a young docile man. He was but thirty gone. And if readers mark
such docility at those years, they will find considerable meaning
in it. Here are prudence, moderation, clear discernment;
very unusual VERACITY of intellect, as we define it,--which
quality, indeed, is the summary and victorious outcome of all
manner of good qualities, and faithful performances, in a man.
"Given up to strong delusions," in the tragical way many are,
Friedrich was not; and, in practical matters, very seldom indeed
"believed a lie."
Certain it is, he now resumes his old Reinsberg Program of Life;
probably with double relish, after such experiences the other way;
and prosecutes it with the old ardor; hoping much that his History
will be of halcyon pacific nature, after all. Would the mad War-
whirlpool but quench itself; dangerous for singeing a near
neighbor, who is only just got out of it! Fain would he be arbiter,
and help to quench it; but it will not quench. For a space of Two
Years or more (till August, 1744, Twenty-six Months in all),
Friedrich, busy on his own affairs, with carefully neutral aspect
towards this War, yet with sword ready for drawing in case of need,
looks on with intense vigilance; using his wisest interference, not
too often either, in that sense and in that only, "Be at Peace; oh,
come to Peace!"--and finds that the benevolent Public and he have
been mistaken in their hopes. For the next Two Years, we say:--for
the first Year (or till about August, 1743), with hope not much
abated, and little actual interference needed; for the latter
Twelvemonth, with hope ever more abating; interference, warning,
almost threatening ever more needed, and yet of no avail, as if
they had been idle talking and gesticulation on his part:--till, in
August, 1744, he had to--But the reader shall gradually see it, if
by any method we can show it him, in something of its real
sequence; and shall judge of it by his own light.
Friedrich's Domestic History was not of noisy nature, during this
interval:--and indeed in the bewildered Records given of it, there
is nothing visible, at first, but one wide vortex of simmering
inanities; leading to the desperate conclusion that Friedrich had
no domestic history at all. Which latter is by no means the fact!
Your poor Prussian Dryasdust (without even an Index to help you)
being at least authentic, if you look a long time intensely and on
many sides, features do at last dawn out of those sad vortexes;
and you find the old Reinsberg Program risen to activity again;
and all manner of peaceable projects going on. Friedrich visits the
Baths of Aachen (what we call Aix-la-Chapelle); has the usual
Inspections, business activities, recreations, visits of friends.
He opens his Opera-House, this first winter. He enters on Law-
reform, strikes decisively into that grand problem; hoping to
perfect it. What is still more significant, he in private begins
writing his MEMOIRS. And furthermore, gradually determines on
having a little Country House, place of escape from his big Potsdam
Palace; and gets plans drawn for it,--place which became very
famous, by the name of SANS-SOUCI, in times coming. His thoughts
are wholly pacific; of Life to Minerva and the Arts, not to Bellona
and the Battles:--and yet he knows well, this latter too is an
inexorable element. About his Army, he is quietly busy;
augmenting, improving it; the staff of life to Prussia and him.
Silesian Fortress-building, under ugly Walrave, goes on at a
steadily swift rate. Much Silesian settlement goes on; fixing of
the Prussian-Austrian Boundaries without; of the Catholic-
Protestant limits within: rapid, not too rough, remodelling of the
Province from Austrian into Prussian, in the Financial,
Administrative and every other respect:--in all which important
operations the success was noiseless, but is considered to have
been perfect, or nearly so. Cannot we, from these enormous Paper-
masses, carefully riddled, afford the reader a glimpse or two, to
quicken his imagination of these things?
SETTLES THE SILESIAN BOUNDARIES, THE SILESIAN ARRANGEMENTS;
WITH MANIFEST PROFIT TO SILESIA AND HIMSELF.
In regard to the Marches, Herr Nussler, as natural, was again the
person employed. Nussler, shifty soul, wide-awake at all times, has
already seen this Country; "noticed the Pass into Glatz with its
block-house, and perceived that his Majesty would want it."
From September 22d to December 12th, 1742, the actual Operation
went on; ratified, completely set at rest, 16th January following.
[Busching, Beitrage, ? Nussler: and
Busching's Magazin, b. x. (Halle, 1776);
where, pp. 475-538, is a "GESCHICHTE DER &c. SHLESISCHEN
GRANZSCHEIDUNG IM JAHR 1742," in great amplitude and authenticity.]
Nussler serves on three thalers (nine shillings) a day.
The Austrian Head-Commissioner has 5 pounds (thirty thalers) a day;
but he is an elderly fat gentleman, pursy, scant of breath;
cannot stand the rapid galloping about, and thousand-fold
inspecting and detailing; leaves it all to Nussler; who goes like
the wind. Thus, for example, Nussler dictates, at evening from his
saddle, the mutual Protocol of the day's doings; Old Pursy sitting
by, impatient for supper, and making no criticisms. Then at night,
Nussler privately mounts again; privately, by moonlight, gallops
over the ground they are to deal with next day, and takes notice of
everything. No wonder the boundary-pillars, set up in such manner,
which stand to this day, bear marks that Prussia here and there has
had fair play!--Poor Nussler has no fixed appointment yet, except
one of about 100 pounds a year: in all my travels I have seen no
man of equal faculty at lower wages. Nor did he ever get any signal
promotion, or the least exuberance of wages, this poor Nussler;--
unless it be that he got trained to perfect veracity of
workmanship, and to be a man without dry-rot in the soul of him;
which indeed is incalculable wages. Income of 100 pounds a year,
and no dry-rot in the soul of you anywhere; income of 100,000
pounds a year, and nothing but dry and wet rot in the soul of you
(ugly appetites unveracities, blusterous conceits,--and probably,
as symbol of all things, a pot-belly to your poor body itself):
Oh, my friends!
In settling the Spiritual or internal Catholic-Protestant limits of
Silesia, Friedrich did also a workmanlike thing. Perfect fairness
between Protestant and Catholic; to that he is bound, and never
needed binding. But it is withal his intention to be King in
Catholic Silesia; and that no Holy Father, or other extraneous
individual, shall intrude with inconvenient pretensions there.
He accordingly nominates the now Bishop of Neisse and natural
Primate of Silesia,--Cardinal von Sinzendorf, who has made
submission for any late Austrian peccadilloes, and thoroughly
reconciled himself,--nominates Sinzendorf "Vicar-General" of the
Country; who is to relieve the Pope of Silesian trouble, and be
himself Quasi-Supreme of the Catholic Church there. "No offence,
Holy Papa of Christian Mankind! Your holy religion is, and shall
be, intact in these parts; but the palliums, bulls and other holy
wares and interferences are not needed here. On that footing, be
pleased to rest content."
The Holy Father shrieked his loudest (which is now a quite
calculable loudness, nothing like so loud as it once was);
declared he would "himself join the Army of Martyrs sooner;"
and summoned Sinzendorf to Rome: "What kind of HINGE are you,
CARDINALIS of the Gates of"-- Husht! Shrieked his loudest, we say;
but, as nobody minded it, and as Sinzendorf would not come, had to
let the matter take its course. [Adelung, iii. A. 197-200.]
And, gradually noticing what correct observance of essentials there
was, he even came quite round, into a high state of satisfaction
with this Heretic King, in the course of a few years. Friedrich and
the Pope were very polite to each other thenceforth; always ready
to do little mutual favors. And it is to be remarked, Friedrich's
management of his Clergy, Protestant and Catholic, was always
excellent; true, in a considerable degree, to the real law of
things; gentle, but strict, and without shadow of hypocrisy,--
in which last fine particular he is singularly unique among
Modern Sovereigns.
He recognizes honestly the uses of Religion, though he himself has
little; takes a good deal of pains with his Preaching Clergy, from
the Army-Chaplain upwards,--will suggest texts to them, with scheme
of sermon, on occasion;--is always anxious to have, as Clerical
Functionary, the right man in the important place; and for the
rest, expects to be obeyed by them, as by his Sergeants and
Corporals. Indeed, the reverend men feel themselves to be a body of
Spiritual Sergeants, Corporals and Captains; to whom obedience is
the rule, and discontent a thing not to be indulged in by any
means. And it is worth noticing, how well they seem to thrive in
this completely submissive posture; how much real Christian worth
is traceable in their labors and them; and what a fund of piety and
religious faith, in rugged effectual form, exists in the Armies and
Populations of such a King. ["In 1780, at Berlin, the population
being 140,000, there are of ECCLESIASTIC kind only 140; that is
1 to the 1,000;--at Munchen there are thirty times as many in
proportion" (Mirabeau, Monarchie Prussienne,
viii. 342; quoting NICOLAI).] ...
By degrees the Munchows and Official Persons intrusted with Silesia
got it wrought in all respects, financial, administrative,
judicial, secular and spiritual, into the Prussian model: a long
tough job; but one that proved well worth doing. [In Preuss
(i. 197-200), the various steps (from 1740 to 1806).] In this
state, counts one authority, it was worth to Prussia "about six
times what it had been to Austria;"--from some other forgotten
source, I have seen the computation "eight times." In money
revenue, at the end of Friedrich's reign, it is a little more than
twice; the "eight times" and the "six times," which are but loose
multiples, refer, I suppose, to population, trade, increase of
national wealth, of new regiments yielded by new cantons, and the
like. [Westphalen, in Feldzuge des Herzogs Ferdinand italic> (printed, Berlin, 1859, written 100 years before by that
well-informed person), i. 65, says in the rough "six times:"
Preuss, iv. 292, gives, very indistinctly, the ciphers of Revenue,
in 1740 and SOME later Year: according to Friedrich himself
( Oeuvres, ii. 102), the Silesian Revenue at first was
"3,600,000 thalers" (540,000 pounds, little more than Half a
Million); Population, a Million-and-Half.]
Six or eight times as useful to Prussia: and to the Inhabitants
what multiple of usefulness shall we give? To be governed on
principles fair and rational, that is to say, conformable to
Nature's appointment in that respect; and to be governed on
principles which contradict the very rules of Cocker, and with
impious disbelief of the very Multiplication Table: the one is a
perpetual Gospel of Cosmos and Heaven to every unit of the
Population; the other a Gospel of Chaos and Beelzebub to every unit
of them: there is no multiple to be found in Arithmetic which will
express that!--Certain of these advantages, in the new Government,
are seen at once; others, the still more valuable, do not appear,
except gradually and after many days and years. With the one and
the other, Schlesien appears to have been tolerably content.
From that Year 1742 to this, Schlesien has expressed by word and
symptom nothing but thankfulness for the Transfer it underwent;
and there is, for the last Hundred Years, no part of the Prussian
Dominion more loyal to the Hohenzollerns (who are the Authors of
Prussia, without whom Prussia had never been), than this their
latest acquisition, when once it too got moulded into their own
image. [Preuss, i. 193, and ib. 200 (Note from Klein, a Silesian
Jurist): "Favor not merit formerly;" "Magistracies a regular branch
of TRADE;"--"highway robbers on a strangely familiar footing with
the old Breslau magistrates;" &c. &c.]
OPENING OF THE OPERA-HOUSE AT BERLIN.
... December 7th, this Winter, Carnival being come or just coming,
Friedrich opens his New Opera-House, for behoof of the cultivated
Berlin classes; a fine Edifice, which had been diligently built by
Knobelsdorf, while those Silesian battlings went on. "One of the
largest and finest Opera-houses in the whole world; like a
sumptuous Palace rather. Stands free on all sides, space for 1,000
Coaches round it; Five great Entrances, five persons can walk
abreast through each; and inside--you should see, you should hear!
Boxes more like rooms or boudoirs, free view and perfect hearing of
the stage from every point: air pure and free everywhere;
water aloft, not only for theatrical cascades, but to drown out any
fire or risk of fire." [Seyfarth, i. 234; Nicolai,
Beschreibung von Berlin, i. 169.] This is Seyfarth's
account, still capable of confirmation by travelling readers of a
musical turn. I have seen Operas with much more brilliancy of gas
and gilding; but none nearly so convenient to the human mind and
sense; or where the audience (not now a gratis one) attended to the
music in so meritorious a way.
"Perhaps it will attract moneyed strangers to frequent our
Capital?"--some guess, that was Friedrich's thought. "At all
events, it is a handsome piece of equipage, for a musical King and
People; not to be neglected in the circumstances. Thalia, in
general,--let us not neglect Thalia, in such a dearth of
worshipable objects." Nor did he neglect Thalia. The trouble
Friedrich took with his Opera, with his Dancing-Apparatus, French
Comedy, and the rest of that affair, was very great. Much greater,
surely, than this Editor would have thought of taking; though, on
reflection, he does not presume to blame. The world is dreadfully
scant of worshipable objects: and if your Theatre is your own, to
sweep away intrusive nonsense continually from the gates of it?
Friedrich's Opera costs him heavy sums (surely I once knew
approximately what, but the sibylline leaf is gone again upon the
winds!)--and he admits gratis a select public, and that only.
[Preuss, i. 277; and Preuss, Buch fur Jedermann, italic> i. 100.] "This Winter, 1742-43, was unusually magnificent at
Court: balls, WIRTHSCHAFTEN [kind of MIMIC FAIRS], sledge-parties,
masquerades, and theatricals of all sorts;--and once even, December
2d, the new Golden Table-Service [cost of it 200,000 pounds] was in
action, when the two Queens [Queen Regnant and Queen Mother] dined
with his Majesty."
FRIEDRICH TAKES THE WATERS AT AACHEN, WHERE VOLTAIRE COMES TO SEE HIM.
Months before that of the Opera-House or those Silesian
settlements, Friedrich, in the end of August, what is the first
thing visible in his Domestic History, makes a visit, for health's
sake, to Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle so called), with a view to the
waters there. Intends to try for a little improvement in health, as
the basis of ulterior things. Health has naturally suffered a
little in these War-hardships; and the Doctors recommend Aix.
After Wesel, and the Westphalian Inspections, Friedrich,
accordingly, proceeds to Aix; and for about a fortnight (23th
August-9th September) drinks the waters in that old resting-place
of Charlemagne;--particulars not given in the Books; except that
"he lodged with Baege" (if any mortal now knew Baege), and did an
Audience or so to select persons now unknown. He is not entirely
incognito, but is without royal state; the "guard of twenty men,
the escort of 160 men," being no men of his, but presumably mere
Town-guard of Aix coming in an honorary way. Aix is proud to see
him; he himself is intent on the waters here at old Aix:--
Aquisgranum, urbs regalis,
Sedes Regni principalis:--
)
My friend, this was Charlemagne's high place; and his dust lies
here, these thousand years last past. And there used to soar "a
very large Gilt Eagle," ten feet wide or so, aloft on the
Cathedral-steeple there; Eagle turned southward when the Kaiser was
in Frankenland, eastward when he was in Teutsch or Teuton-land;
in fact, pointing out the Kaiser's whereabouts to loyal mankind.
[Kohler, Reichs-Historie. ] Eagle which shines
on me as a human fact; luminously gilt, through the dark
Dryasdustic Ages, gone all spectral under Dryasdust's sad handling.
Friedrich knows farther, that for many centuries after, the
"Reich's INSIGNIA (REICHS-KLEINODIEN)" used to be here,--though
Maria Theresa has them now, and will not give them up. The whole of
which points are indifferent to him. The practical, not the
sentimental, is Friedrich's interest;--not to say that WERTER and
the sentimental were not yet born into our afflicted Earth. A King
thoroughly practical;--yet an exquisite player on the flute withal,
as we often notice; whose adagio could draw tears from you. For in
himself, too, there were floods of tears (as when his Mother died);
and he has been heard saying, not bragging but lamenting, what was
truly the fact, that "he had more feeling than other men." But it
was honest human feeling always; and was repressed, where not
irrepressible;--as it behooved to be.
Friedrich's suite was not considerable, says the French spy at Aix
on this occasion; pomp of Entrance,--a thing to be mute upon!
"Came driving in with the common post-horses of the country;
and such a set of carriages as your Lordship, intent on the
sublime, has no idea of." [Spy-Letter, in Campagnes des
Trois Marechaux, i. 222.] Rumor was, His Britannic
Majesty was coming (also on pretext of the waters) to confer with
him; other rumor is, If King George came in at one gate, King
Friedrich would go out at the other. A dubious Friedrich, to the
French spy, at this moment; nothing like so admirable as he
once was!--
The French emotions (of which we say little), on Friedrich's making
Peace for himself, had naturally been great. To the French Public
it was unexpected, somewhat SUDDEN even to the Court; and, sure
enough, it was of perilous importance in the circumstances.
Few days ago, Broglio (by order given him) "could not spare a man,"
for the Common Cause;--and now the Common Cause has become entirely
the Broglio one, and Broglio will have the full use of all his men!
"Defection [plainly treasonous to your Liege Lord and Nation]!
horrible to think of!" cried the French Public; the Court outwardly
taking a lofty tragic-elegiac tone, with some air of hope that his
Prussian Majesty would perhaps come round again, to the side of his
afflicted France! Of which, except in the way of helping France and
the other afflicted parties to a just Peace if he could, his
Prussian Majesty had small thought at this time.
More affecting to Friedrich were the natural terrors of the poor
Kaiser on this event. The Kaiser has already had his Messenger at
Berlin, in consequence of it; with urgent inquiries, entreaties;--
an expert Messenger, who knows Berlin well. So other than our old
friend, the Ordnance-Master Seckendorf, now titular Feldmarschall,
--whom one is more surprised than delighted to meet again!
Being out with Austria (clamoring for great sums of "arrears,"
which they will not pay), he has been hanging about this new
Kaiser, ever since Election-time; and is again getting into
employment, Diplomatic, Strategic, for some years,--though we hope
mostly to ignore him and it. Friedrich's own feeling at sight of
him,--ask not about it, more than if there had been none! Friedrich
gave him "a distinguished reception;" Friedrich's answer sent by
him to the Kaiser was all kindness; emphatic assurance, "That, not
'hostility' by any means, that loyalty, friendship, and aid
wherever possible within the limits, should always be his rule
towards the now Kaiser, lawful Head of the Reich, in difficult
circumstances." ["Audience, 30th July" (Adelung, iii. A, 217).]
Which was some consolation to the poor man,--stript of his old
revenues, old Bavarian Dominions, and unprovided with new;
this sublime Headship of the Reich bring moneyless; and one's new
"Kingdom of Bohemia" hanging in so uncertain a state, with nothing
but a Pharsalia-Sahay to show for itself!--
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