Under my feet, so to
"say, I saw the bombardment of the Town of Neisse.
"say, I saw the bombardment of the Town of Neisse.
Thomas Carlyle
"
Very well, my friend! Let us keep to windward of
the Diplomatic wizard's-cauldron; let Hyndford, Valori
and Company preside over it, throwing-in their eye of
newt and limb of toad, as occasion may be. Enough,
if the reader can be brought to conceive it; and how
the young King, -- who perhaps alone had real busi-
ness in this foul element, and did not volunteer into it
like the others, though it now unexpectedly envelops
him like a world-whirl wind (frightful enough, if one
spoke of that to anybody), is struggling with his whole
soul to get well out of it. As supremely adroit, all
readers already know him; his appearance what we
called starlike, -- always something definite, fixed and
lucid in it.
He is dextrously holding aloof from Hyndford at
present, clinging to French Valori as his chosen com-
panion: we may fancy what a time he has of it, like
a polygamist amid jealous wives. It will quicken
Hyndford, he perceives, in these ulterior stages, to
leave him well alone. Hyndford accordingly, as we
have noticed, could not see the King at all; had to try
every plan, to watch, waylay the King for a bit of in-
terview, when indispensable. However, Hyndford, with
his Neipperg in sight of the peril, manages better than
Robinson with his Aulic Council at a distance: besides
he is a longheaded dogged kind of man, with a surly
edacious strength, not inexpert in negotiation, nor
easily turned aside from any purpose he may have.
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? CHAP. v. J FEIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 85
Sth Oct. 1741.
Between the two Camps, nearly midway, lies a
Hamlet called Klein-Schnellendorf, Little Schnellendorf,
to distinguish it from another Schnellendorf called Great,
which is a mile or two north-westward, out of the
straight line. Not far from the first of these poor
Hamlets, lies a Schloss or noble Mansion, likewise called
Klein-Schnellendorf, belonging to a certain Count von
Sternberg, who is not there at present, but whose ser-
vants are, and a party of Croats over them for some
days back: a pleasant airy Mansion among pleasant
gardens, well shut out from the intrusion of the world.
Upon this Castle of Klein-Schnellendorf judicious Hynd-
ford has cast his eye: -- and Neipperg, now come to
a state of readiness, approves the suggestion of Hynd-
ford, and promptly at the due moment converts it into
a fact. Arrests namely, on a given morning (the last
act of his Croats there, who withdrew directly with
their batch of prisoners), every living soul within or
about the Mansion; -- "suspected of treason;" only for
one day; -- and in this way, has it reduced to the
comfortable furnished solitude of Sleeping Beauty's
Castle; a plaee fit for high persons to hold a Meeting
in, which shall remain secret as the grave. Such a
thing was indispensable. For Friedrich, keeping shy
of Hyndford, as he well may with a Valori watching
every step, has by words, by silences, when Hyndford
could waylay him for a moment, sufficiently indicated
what he will and what he will not: and, for one in-
dispensable condition, in the present thrice-delicate
Adventure, he will not sign anything; will give and
take word of honour, and fully bind himself, but ab-
solutely not put pen to paper at all. Neipperg being
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? 86 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
9th Oct. 1741.
willing too, judicious Hyndford finds a medium. Let
the parties meet at Klein-Schnellendorf, and judicious
Hyndford be there with pen and paper. *
Monday, 9th October 1741, accordingly, there is
meeting to be held. Hyndford, Neipperg with his
General Lentulus (a Swiss-Austrian General, whose Son
served under Friedrich afterwards), these wait for
Friedrich, on the one hand: -- "to fix some cartel for
exchange of prisoners," it is said; -- in these precincts
of Klein-Schnellendorf; which are silent, vacant, yet
comfortably furnished, like Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
And Friedrich, on the other hand, is actually riding
that way, with Goltz; -- visiting outposts, recon-
noitring, so to speak. "Dine you with Prince Leopold
(the Young Dessauer), my fine Valori; I fear I sha'n't
be home to dinner! " he had said when going off; hood-
winking his fine Valori, who suspects nothing. At a
due distance from Klein-Schnellendorf, the very groom
is left behind; and Friedrich, with Goltz only, pushes
on to the Schloss. All ready there; salutations soon
done; business set about, perfected: -- and Hyndford
with pen and ink in his hand, he, by way of Protocol,
or summary of what had been agreed to, on mutual
word of honour, most brief but most clear on this oc-
casion, writes a State Paper, which became rather
famous afterwards. This is the Paper in condensed
state; though clear, it is very dull!
Klein-Schnellendorf, SthOctober 1741. Britannic Excellency
Hyndford testifies, That, here and now, his Majesty of Prussia,
and Neipperg on behalf of her Hungarian Majesty do, solemnly
though only verbally, agree to the following Four Things:
"First, That General Neipperg, on the 16 th of the month"
(this day week), "shall have liberty to retire through the
* Orlich, 1. 146; Helilen-Geschichte, i. 1009.
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? CHAP. v. ] FRIEDMCH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 87
9th Oct. 1741.
"Mountains, towards Moravia; unmolested, or with nothing
"but sham-attacks in the rear of him. Second, That, in con-
"sequence, his Prussian Majesty, on making sham-siege of
"Neisse, shall have the place surrender to him on the fifteenth
"day. Third, That there shall be, nay in a sense, there hereby
"is, a Peace made; his Majesty retaining Neisse and Silesia"
(according to the limits known to us; '-- nothing said of
Glatz); "and that a Complete Treaty to that effect shall be
"perfected, signed and ratified, before the Year is out. Fourth,
"That these sham-hostilities, but only sham, shall continue;
"and that his Majesty, wintering in Bohemia, and carrying on
"sham-hostilities" (to the satisfaction of the French), "shall
"pay his own expenses, and do no mischief. "*
To these Four Things they pledge their word of honour;
and Hyndford signs and delivers each a Copy. Unwritten a
Fifth Thing is settled, That the present transaction in all
parts of it shall be secret as death, -- his Majesty expressly in-
sisting that, if the least inkling of it ooze out, he shall have
right to deny it, and refuse in any way to be bound by it.
Which likewise is assented to.
Here is a pretty piece of work done for ourself and
our allies, while Valori is quietly dining with the
Prince of Dessau! The King staid about two hours;
was extremely polite, and even frank and communi-
cative. "A very high-spirited young King," thinks
Neipperg, reporting of it; "will not stand contradiction;
"but a great deal can be made of him, if you go into
"his ideas, and humour him in a delicate dextrous
"way. He did not the least hide his engagements with
"France, Bavaria, Saxony, but would really, so far as
"I Neipperg could judge, prefer friendship with Aus-
"tria, on the given terms; and seems to have secretly
"a kind of pique at Saxony, and no favour for the
"French and their plans. " **
* Given in Uelden-Geschichle, i. 1009; in &c.
** Orlich, i. 149 (in condensed state).
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? 88 FIRST SILBSIAN WAR ENDS. [bOOk VIII.
9th Oct. 1741.
"Business being done" (this is Hyndford's report),
"the King, who had been politeness itself, took Neip-
"perg aside, beckoning Hyndford to be of the party,
"'I wish you too, my Lord, to hear every word: --
"his Britannic Majesty knows or should know my in-
"tentions never were to do him hurt, but only to take
"care of myself; and pray inform him' (what is the
"fact), 'that I have ordered my Army in Brandenburg
"to go into winter-quarters, and break up that Camp
"at Gottin. " Friedrich's talk to Neipperg is, How he
"may assault the French with advantage: 'Join Lobko-
"witz and what force he has in Bohmen; go right into
"your enemies, before they can unite there. If the
"Queen prosper, I shall -- perhaps I shall have no
"objection to join her by and by? If her Majesty fail;
"well, every one must look to himself. "' These words
Hyndford listened to, with an edacious solid counten-
ance, and greedily took them down. *
Once more, a curious glimpse (perhaps imprudently
allowed us, in the circumstances) into the real inner
man of Friedrich. He had, at this time, now that the
Belleisle Adventure is left in such a state, no essential
reason to wish the French ruined, -- nor probably did
he; but only stated both chances, as in the way of
unguarded soliloquy; and was willing to leave Neip-
perg a sweet morsel to chew. Secret mode of corre-
sponding with the Court of Austria is agreed upon;
not direct, but through certain Commandants, till the
Peace-Treaty be perfected, -- at latest "by December
24th," we hope. And so, "Bon voyage, and well across
the Mountains, M. le Marechal; till we meet again!
And you, Excellency Hyndford, be so good you as
* Hyndford's Despatch, Breslau, 14th October 1741.
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? CHAr. V. ] FRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 89
9th Oct. 1741.
'write to me, -- for Valori's behoof, -- complaining that
I am deaf to all proposals, that nothing can be had of
me. And other Letters, pray, of the like tenor, all
round; to Presburg, to England, to Dresden: -- if the
Couriers are seized, it shall be well. 'Your Letter to
myself, let a trumpet come with it while I am at
dinner,' and Valori beside me! " -- "Certainly, your
Majesty," answers Hyndford; and does it, does all this;
which produces a soothing effect on Valori, poor
soul!
Friedrieh takes Neisse by Sham Siege (Capture not Sham);
gets Homaged in Breslati; and returns to Berlin.
Thus, if the Austrians hold to their bargain, ha$
Friedrieh, in a most compendious manner, got done
with a Business which threatened to be infinite: by
this short cut he, for his part, is quite out of the waste
howling jungle of Enchanted Forest, and his foot again
on the firm free Earth. If only the Austrians hold to
their bargain! But probably he doubts if they will.
Well, even in that case, he has got Neisse; stands pre-
pared for meeting them again; and, in the mean while,
has freedom to deny that there ever was such a
bargain.
Of the Political morality of this game of fast-and-
loose, what have we to say,-- except that the dice on
both sides seem to be loaded; that logic might be
chopped upon it forever; that a candid mind will settle
what degree of wisdom (which is always essentially
veracity), and what of folly (which is always falsity),
there was in Friedrieh and the others; whether, or to
what degree, there was a better course open to Fried-
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? 90 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book Xm.
l6th Oct. 1741.
rich in the circumstances: -- and, in fine, it will have
to be granted that you cannot work in pitch and keep
hands evidently clean. Friedrich has got into the
Enchanted Wilderness, populous with devils and their
works; -- and, alas, it will be long before he get out
of it again, his life waning towards night before he get
victoriously out, and bequeath his conquest to luckier
successors! It is one of the tragic elements of this
King's life; little contemplated by him, when he went
lightly into the Silesian Adventure, looking for honour
bright, what he called "gloire" as one principal con-
sideration, hardly a year ago! --
Neipperg, according to covenant, broke up punc-
tually that_ day week, October 16th; and went over
the Mountains, through Jagerndorf, Troppau, towards
Mahren; Prussians hanging on his rear, and skirmish-
ing about, but only for imaginary or ostensible pur-
poses. After a three weeks march, he gets to a place
called Frating, * easternmost border of Mahren, on the
slopes of the Mannhartsberg Hill-Country, which is
within wind of Vienna itself; where, as we can fancy,
his presence is welcome as morning-light in the present
dark circumstances.
Friedrich, on the morrow after Neipperg went, in-
vested Neisse (October 17th); set about the Siege of
Neisse with all gravity, as if it had been the most
earnest operation; which nobody of mankind, except
three or four, doubted but it was. Before opening of
the trenches, Leopold young Dessauer took the road
for Glatz Country, and the adjoining Circles of Bo-
hemia; there to canton himself, peaceably according to
contract; and especially to have an eye upon Glatz,
* Espagnac, i. 104.
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? CHAP. v. ] FRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 91
17th-27th Oct. 1741. j
should the Klein-Schnellendorf engagement go awry in
any point. The King in his Dialogue with Neipperg
had said several things about Glatz, and what a sacri-
fice he made there for the sake of speedy peace, the
French having guaranteed him Glatz, though he now
forbore it. Leopold, who has with him some 15,000
horse and foot, cantons himself judiciously in those
ultramontane parts, -- "all the artillery in the Glatz
Country;"* -- and we shall hear of him again, by
and by, in regard to other business that rises there.
Neisse is a formidable Fortress, much strengthened
since last year; but here is a Besieger with much
better chance! He marked out parallels, sent sum-
monses, reconnoitred, manoeuvred, -- in a way more
or less surprising to the eye of Valori, who is military,
and'knows about sieges. Rather singular, remarks
Valori; good engineers much wanted here! But the
bombardment did finally begin: night of October 26th-
27th, the Prussians opened fire; and, at a terrible rate,
cannonaded and bombarded without intermission. In
point of fire and noise it is tremendous; Valori
trusts it may be effective, in spite of faults; goes to
Breslau in hope: "Yes, go to Breslau, mon clier Valori;
wait for me there. Neipperg be chased, say you?
Shall not he, -- if we had got this place! " And so
the fire continues night and day. **
Fantastic Bielfeld, in his semi-fabulous style, has a
Letter on this bombardment, attractive to Lovers of the
Picturesque, -- (written long afterwards, and dated &c.
wrong). As Bielfeld is a rapid clever creature of the
coxcomb sort, and doubtless did see Neisse Siege, and
* Helden-Geschichte, ii. 431; Orlich, i. 174.
** Helden-Geschichle, i. 1006.
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? 92 FIRST SILBSIAN WAR ENDS. [book Xin.
17th-31st Oct. 1741.
entertained seemingly a blazing incorrect recollection
of it, his Pseudo-Neisse Letter may be worth giving,
to represent approximately what kind of scene it was
there at Neisse in the October nights:
"Mare'chal Schwerin was lodged in a Village, about three-
"quarters of a mile from Head-Quarters. One day he did me
"the honour to invite me to dinner; and even offered me a
"horse to ride thither with him. I found excellent company;
"a superb repast, and wine of the gods. Host and guests were
"in high spirits; and the pleasures of the table were kept up
"so late, that it was midnight when we rose. I was obliged
"to return to Head-Quarters, having still to wait upon the
"King, as usual. The Marechal was kind enough to lend me
"another horse; but the groom mischievously gave me the
"charger which the Marechal rode at the Battle of Mollwitz;
"a very powerful animal, and which, from that day, had
'' grown very skittish.
"I was made aware of this circumstance, before we*were
"fairly out of the Village; and the night being of the darkest,
"I twenty times ran the risk of breaking my neck. We had
"to pass over a hill, to get to Head-Quarters. WhenI reached
"the top, a shudder came over me, and my hair stood on end.
"I had nobody with me but a strange groom. The country
"all around was infested with troops and marauders; I was
"mounted on an unmanageable horse.
Under my feet, so to
"say, I saw the bombardment of the Town of Neisse. I heard
"the roar of cannon and doleful shrieks. Above our batteries
"the whole atmosphere was inflamed; and to complete the
"calamity, I missed the way, and got lost in the darkness.
"Finally, in descending the hill, my horse, frightened, made a
"terrible swerve or side-jump. I did not know the cause; but
"after having, with difficulty, got him into the road again, I
"found myself opposite to a deserter who had been hanged
"that day! I was horribly disgusted by the sight; the gallows
"being very low, and the head of the malefactor almost
"parallel with mine. I spurred on, and galloped away from
"such unpleasant night-company. At last I arrived at Head-
"Quarters, all in a perspiration. I sent my horse back; and
"went in to the King, who asked me at once, why I was so
"heated. I made his Majesty a faithful report of all my
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? CHAP. v. ] PRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 93
1st Nov. 1741.
"disasters. He laughed much; and advised me seriously not
"again to go out by night, and alone, beyond the circuit of
"Head- Quarters. " *
After four days and nights of this sublime Play-
house thunder (with real bullets in it, which killed
some men, and burnt considerable property), the Neisse
Commandant (not Roth this time, Roth is now in
Briinn), -- his "fortnight of siege," October 17th to
October 31st, being accomplished or nearly so, -- beat
chamade; and was, after grave enough treatying,
allowed to march away. Marched, accordingly, on the
correct Klein-Schnellendorf terms; most of his poor
garrison deserting, and taking Prussian service. Ever
since which moment, Neisse, captured in this curious
manner, has been Friedrich's and his Prussia's.
November 1st, the Prussian soldiers entered the
place; and Friedrich, after diligent inspection and what
orders were necessary, left for Brieg on the following
day, -- where general illuminating and demonstrating
awaited him, amid more serious business. After strict
examinations, and approval of Walrave and his works
at Brieg, he again takes the road; enters Breslau, in
considerable state (November 4th); where many Per-
sons of Quality are waiting, and the general Homaging
is straightway to be, -- or indeed should have been
some days ago, but has fallen behind by delays in the
Neisse affair.
The Breslau Iluldigung, -- Friedrich sworn-to and
bomaged with the due solemnities as "Sovereign Duke
of Lower Silesia," -- was an event to throw into fine
temporary frenzy the descriptive Gazetteers, and Breslau
City, overflowing with Quality people come to act and
* Bielfeld, ii. 31, 32.
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? 94 FIRST SILESIAN WAE ENDS. [book xm.
7th Nov. 1741.
to see on the occasion. Event which can be left to the
reader's fancy, at this date. There were Corporations
out in quantity, "all in cloaks," and with sublime
Addresses, partly in poetry, happily rather brief. There
were beautiful Prussian Lifeguards ("First Battalion,"
admirable to the softer sex, not to speak of the harder);
much military resonance and splendour. Friedrich
drove about in carriages-and-six, "nay carriage-and-
eight, horses cream-colour:" a very high King indeed;
and a very busy one, for those four days (November
4th-8th, 1741), but full of grace and condescension.
The Huldigung itself took effect on the 7th; in the fine
old Rathhaus, which Tourists still know, -- the sur-
rounding Apple-women sweeping themselves clear away
for one day. Ancient Ducal throne and proper apparatus
there was; state sword unluckily wanting: Schwerin,
who was to act Grand-Marshal, could find no state-
sword, till Friedrich drew his own and gave it him. *
Podewils the Minister said something, not too much;
to which one Prittwitz, head of a Silesian Family of
which we shall know individuals, made pithy and
pretty response, before swearing. "There were above
Four Hundred of Quality present, all in gala. " The
customary Free-Gift of the Stande Friedrich magnani-
mously refused: "Impossible to be a burden to our
Silesia in such harassed war-circumstances, instead of
benefactor and protector, as we intended and intend! "
The Ceremony, swearing and all, was over in two
hours; hundreds of silver medals, not to speak of the
gold ones, flying about; and Breslau giving itself up
joyfully to dinner and festivities. And, after dinner,
that evening, to Illumination; followed by balls and
* Helden-Geschichle, i. 1022,1025; ii. 349.
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? CHAP. v. ] FRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 95
lltk Nov. 1741.
jubilations for days after, in a highly harmonious key.
Of the lamps-festoons, astonishing transparencies, and
glad symbolic devices, I could say a great deal; but
will mention only two, both of comfortably edible or
quasi-edible tendency:
1o. That of David Schulze, Flesher by profession; who
had a Transparency large as life, representing his own fat
Person in the act of felling a fat Ox; to which was appended
this epigraph:
"Wer mir wird den Konig in Preussen verachten,
"Den will ich wie diesen Ochsen schlachlen"
"Who dares me the King of Prussia insult,
"Him I will serve like this fat head of nolt. "
Signed "David Schulze, a Brandenbubgeb. " --
And then,
20. How, in another quarter, there was set aloft in re, by
some Pastrycook of patriotic turn: "An actual Ox roasted
"whole; filled with pheasants, partridges, grouse, hares and
"geese; Prussian Eagle atop, made of roasted fowls, larks and
"the like,"--unattainable,! doubt, except for money down. *
On the fifth morning, 9th November, -- after much
work done during this short visit, much ceremonial
audiencing, latterly, and raising to the peerage, --
Friedrich rolled on to Glogau. Took accurate survey
of the engineering and other interests there, for a
couple of days; thence to Berlin (noon of the 11th),
joyfully received by Eoyal Family and all the world;
-- and, as we might fancy, asking himself: "Am I
actually home, then; out of the enchanted jungles and
their devilries; safe here, and listening, I alone in
Peace, to the universal din of War? " Alas, no; that
was a beautiful hypothesis; too beautiful to be long
credible! Before reaching Berlin, -- or even Breslau,
* Helden-Geschichte, ii. 359.
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? 96 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIH.
llttl Nov. 1741.
as appears, -- Friedrich, vigilantly scanning and dis-
cerning, had seen that fine hope as good as vanish;
and was silently busy upon the opposite one.
In a fortnight hence, Hyndford, who had followed
to Berlin, got transient sight of the King one morning,
hastening through some apartment or other: "'My
"Lord,' said the King, 'the Court of Vienna has entirely
"divulged our secret. Dowager Empress Amelia'
"(Kaiser Joseph's widow, mother of Karl Albert's wife)
"'has acquainted the Court of Bavaria with it;
"Wasner' (Austrian Minister at Paris) 'has told
"Fleury; Sinzendorf (ditto at Petersburg) 'has told
"the Court of Russia; Robinson, through Mr. Villiers'
"(your Saxon Minister), 'has told the Court of Dresden;
"and several members of your Government in England
"have talked publicly about it! ' And, with a shrug
"of the shoulders, he left me," -- standing somewhat
agape there. *
* Hyndford, Despatch, Berlin, 28tb November 1741; Breslau, 28th
October (secret already known).
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? CHAP. VI. ] MAYOR OF LANDSHUT SPEAKING- 97
4th Dec. 1741.
CHAPTER VI.
NEW MAYOR OF LANDSHUT MAKES AN INSTALLATION
SPEECH.
The late general Homaging at Breslau, and solemn
Taking Possession of the Country by King Friedrich,
under sueh peaceable omens, had straightway, as we
gather, brought about, over Silesia at large, or at least
where pressingly needful, various little alterations, --
rectifications, by the Prussian model and new rule now
introduced. Of which, as it is better that the reader
have some dim notion, if easily procurable, than none
at all, I will offer him one example; -- itself dim
enough, but coming at first-hand, in the actual or con-
crete form, and beyond disputing in whatever light or
twilight it may yield us.
At Landshut, a pleasant little Mountain Town, in
the Principality of Schweidnitz, high up, on the infant
River Bober, near the Bohemian Frontier -- (English
readers may see Quincey Adams's description of it, and
of the long wooden spouts which throw cataracts on
you, if walking the streets in rain*): -- at Landshut,
as in some other Towns, it had been found good jto
remodel the Town Magistracy a little; to make it
partly Protestant, for one thing, instead of Catholic
(and Austrian), which it had formerly been. Details
about the "high controversies and discrepancies" which
had risen there, we have absolutely none; nor have
* John Qaincey Adams (afterwards President of the United States),
Letters on Silesia (London, 1804). "The wooden spouts are now gone"
(Hols, of 1858).
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VII. '
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? ? 98 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
4th Dec. 1741.
the special functions of the Magistracy, what powers
they had, what work they did, in the least become
distinct to us: we gather only that a certain nameless
Biirgermeister (probably Austrian and Catholic) had,
by "Most gracious Royal Special-Order," been at
length relieved from his labours, and therewith "the
"much by him persecuted and afflicted Herr Theodoras
"Spener" been named Burgermeister instead. Which
respectable Herr Theodorus Spener, and along with
him Herr Johann David Fischer as Baths-Senior, and
Herr Johann Caspar Eiiffer, and also Herr Johann
Jacob Umminger, as new Eaths (how many of the old
being left, I cannot say), were accordingly, on the 4th
of December 1741, publicly installed, and with proper
solemnity took their places; all Landshut looking on,
with the conceivable interest and astonishment, almost
as at a change in the obliquity of the ecliptic, --
change probably for the better.
Respectable Herr Theodorus Spener (we hope it is
Spener, for they print him Speer in one of the two
places, and we have to go by guess) is ready with an
Installation Speech on the occasion; and his Speech
was judged so excellent, that they have preserved it
in print. 'Us it by no means strikes by its Demosthenic
or other qualities: meanwhile we listen to it with the
closest attention; hoping, in our great ignorance, to
gather from it some glimmerings of instruction as to
the affairs, humours, disposition and general outlook
and condition of Landshut, and Silesia in that juncture;
-- and though a good deal disappointed, have made
an Abstract of it in the English language, which per-
haps the reader too, in his great ignorance, will accept,
in defect of better. Scene is Landshut among the
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? CHAP. VI. ] MAYOR OF LANDSHTJT SPEAKING. 99
<<h Dec. 1741.
Giant Mountains on the Bohemian Border of Silesia:
an old stone Town, where there is from of old a busy
trade in thread and linen; Town consisting, as is com-
mon there, of various narrow winding streets compar-
able to spider-legs, and of a roomy central market-
place comparable to the body of the spider; wide
irregular Market-place with the wooden spouts (dry for
the moment) all projecting round it. Time, 4th De-
cember 1741 (doubtless in the forenoon); unusual crowd
of population simmering about the Market-place, and
full audience of the better sort gravely attentive in
the interior of the Eathhaus; Burgermeister Spener
bquitur* (liable to abridgment here and there, on
warning given):
"I enter, then, in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, upon
"an Office, to which Divine Providence has appointed, and
"the gracious and potent hand of a great King has raised me.
"Great as is the dignity" (giddy height of Mayoralty in
Landshut), "though undeserved, which the Ever Merciful has
"thus conferred upon me, equally great and much greater is
"the burden connected therewith. Iconfess" -- He confesses,
in high-stalking earnest wooden language very foreign to us
in every way: (1 o. ) That his shoulders are too weak; but that
he trusts in God. For (2o. ) it is God's doing; and He that
has called Spener, will give Spener strength; the essential
work being to do God's will, to promote His honour, and the
common weal. (3o. ) That he comes out of a smaller Office
(Office not distinctly specified, but seems to have been a Se-
nior Rathship), and has taken upon him the Mayoralty of this
Town (an evident fact! ); but that the labour and responsibility
are dreadfully increased; and that the point is not increase of
honour, of respectability or income, but of heavy duties. (A
sonorous, pious-minded Spener; much more in earnest than
readere now think! )
"It is easy," intimates he, "to govern a Town, if," as some
have perhaps done, "you follow simply your own will,regard-
* Helden-Geschichte, ii. 416.
7*
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? 100 FIUST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book sin.
4th Dec. 1741.
"Ies3 of the sighs and complaints your subjects utter for in-
justice undergone, -- indifferent to the thought that the
"caprice of one Town Sovereign is to be glorified by so many
"thousand tears" (dim glance into the past history of Lands-
hut! ). "Such Town Sovereign persecutes innocence, stops
"his ears to its cry; flourishes his sharp scourge; -- no one
"shall complain: tor is it not justice? thinks such a Town
"Sovereign. The reason is, He does not know himself, poor
"man; has had his eye always on the duties of his subjects
"towards him, and rarely or never on his towards them. A
"Sovereign Mayor that governs by fear,---he must live in
"continual fear of every one, and of himself withal. A weak
"basis; and capable of total overturn in one day. On the con-
"trary, the love of your burgher subjects: that, if you can
"kindle it, will go on like a house on fire (Ausbruch cine. *
"Fetters), and streams of water won't put it out. " * * "And"
(let us now take Spener's very words) "if a man keep the fear
"of God before his eyes, there will be no need for any oilier
"kind of fear.
"I will therefore, you especially High-honoured Gentle-
"men, study to direct allmy judicial endeavours to the honour
"of the Great God, and to inviolable fidelity towards my most
"gracious King and Lord" (Friedrich, by Decision of Pro-
vidence -- at Mollwitz and elsewhere).
"To the Citizens of this Town, from of old so dear to me,
"and now by Royal grace committed to my charge, aud tbere-
"fore doubly and trebly to be held dear, I mean to devote my-
"self altogether. I will, on every occasion and occurrence,
"still more expressly than aforetime, stand by them; and
"when need is, not fail to bring their case before the just
"Throne of our Anointed" (Friedrich, by Decision of Pro-
vidence). "Justice and fairness I will endeavour, under
"whatever complexities, to make my load-star. Yes, I shall
"and will, by means of this my Office, equip myself with
"weapons whereby I may be capable to damp such humours
"(InleUu/entien), should such still such be (but I believe there
"arc now none such), as may repugn against the Royal inter-
"est, with possibility of being dangerous; and to put a bridle
"on mouths that are unruly. And, to say much in little com-
"pass, I will be faithful to God, to my King and to this Town.
"Having now the honour and happiness to be put into an
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? CHAP.
Very well, my friend! Let us keep to windward of
the Diplomatic wizard's-cauldron; let Hyndford, Valori
and Company preside over it, throwing-in their eye of
newt and limb of toad, as occasion may be. Enough,
if the reader can be brought to conceive it; and how
the young King, -- who perhaps alone had real busi-
ness in this foul element, and did not volunteer into it
like the others, though it now unexpectedly envelops
him like a world-whirl wind (frightful enough, if one
spoke of that to anybody), is struggling with his whole
soul to get well out of it. As supremely adroit, all
readers already know him; his appearance what we
called starlike, -- always something definite, fixed and
lucid in it.
He is dextrously holding aloof from Hyndford at
present, clinging to French Valori as his chosen com-
panion: we may fancy what a time he has of it, like
a polygamist amid jealous wives. It will quicken
Hyndford, he perceives, in these ulterior stages, to
leave him well alone. Hyndford accordingly, as we
have noticed, could not see the King at all; had to try
every plan, to watch, waylay the King for a bit of in-
terview, when indispensable. However, Hyndford, with
his Neipperg in sight of the peril, manages better than
Robinson with his Aulic Council at a distance: besides
he is a longheaded dogged kind of man, with a surly
edacious strength, not inexpert in negotiation, nor
easily turned aside from any purpose he may have.
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? CHAP. v. J FEIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 85
Sth Oct. 1741.
Between the two Camps, nearly midway, lies a
Hamlet called Klein-Schnellendorf, Little Schnellendorf,
to distinguish it from another Schnellendorf called Great,
which is a mile or two north-westward, out of the
straight line. Not far from the first of these poor
Hamlets, lies a Schloss or noble Mansion, likewise called
Klein-Schnellendorf, belonging to a certain Count von
Sternberg, who is not there at present, but whose ser-
vants are, and a party of Croats over them for some
days back: a pleasant airy Mansion among pleasant
gardens, well shut out from the intrusion of the world.
Upon this Castle of Klein-Schnellendorf judicious Hynd-
ford has cast his eye: -- and Neipperg, now come to
a state of readiness, approves the suggestion of Hynd-
ford, and promptly at the due moment converts it into
a fact. Arrests namely, on a given morning (the last
act of his Croats there, who withdrew directly with
their batch of prisoners), every living soul within or
about the Mansion; -- "suspected of treason;" only for
one day; -- and in this way, has it reduced to the
comfortable furnished solitude of Sleeping Beauty's
Castle; a plaee fit for high persons to hold a Meeting
in, which shall remain secret as the grave. Such a
thing was indispensable. For Friedrich, keeping shy
of Hyndford, as he well may with a Valori watching
every step, has by words, by silences, when Hyndford
could waylay him for a moment, sufficiently indicated
what he will and what he will not: and, for one in-
dispensable condition, in the present thrice-delicate
Adventure, he will not sign anything; will give and
take word of honour, and fully bind himself, but ab-
solutely not put pen to paper at all. Neipperg being
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? 86 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
9th Oct. 1741.
willing too, judicious Hyndford finds a medium. Let
the parties meet at Klein-Schnellendorf, and judicious
Hyndford be there with pen and paper. *
Monday, 9th October 1741, accordingly, there is
meeting to be held. Hyndford, Neipperg with his
General Lentulus (a Swiss-Austrian General, whose Son
served under Friedrich afterwards), these wait for
Friedrich, on the one hand: -- "to fix some cartel for
exchange of prisoners," it is said; -- in these precincts
of Klein-Schnellendorf; which are silent, vacant, yet
comfortably furnished, like Sleeping Beauty's Castle.
And Friedrich, on the other hand, is actually riding
that way, with Goltz; -- visiting outposts, recon-
noitring, so to speak. "Dine you with Prince Leopold
(the Young Dessauer), my fine Valori; I fear I sha'n't
be home to dinner! " he had said when going off; hood-
winking his fine Valori, who suspects nothing. At a
due distance from Klein-Schnellendorf, the very groom
is left behind; and Friedrich, with Goltz only, pushes
on to the Schloss. All ready there; salutations soon
done; business set about, perfected: -- and Hyndford
with pen and ink in his hand, he, by way of Protocol,
or summary of what had been agreed to, on mutual
word of honour, most brief but most clear on this oc-
casion, writes a State Paper, which became rather
famous afterwards. This is the Paper in condensed
state; though clear, it is very dull!
Klein-Schnellendorf, SthOctober 1741. Britannic Excellency
Hyndford testifies, That, here and now, his Majesty of Prussia,
and Neipperg on behalf of her Hungarian Majesty do, solemnly
though only verbally, agree to the following Four Things:
"First, That General Neipperg, on the 16 th of the month"
(this day week), "shall have liberty to retire through the
* Orlich, 1. 146; Helilen-Geschichte, i. 1009.
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? CHAP. v. ] FRIEDMCH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 87
9th Oct. 1741.
"Mountains, towards Moravia; unmolested, or with nothing
"but sham-attacks in the rear of him. Second, That, in con-
"sequence, his Prussian Majesty, on making sham-siege of
"Neisse, shall have the place surrender to him on the fifteenth
"day. Third, That there shall be, nay in a sense, there hereby
"is, a Peace made; his Majesty retaining Neisse and Silesia"
(according to the limits known to us; '-- nothing said of
Glatz); "and that a Complete Treaty to that effect shall be
"perfected, signed and ratified, before the Year is out. Fourth,
"That these sham-hostilities, but only sham, shall continue;
"and that his Majesty, wintering in Bohemia, and carrying on
"sham-hostilities" (to the satisfaction of the French), "shall
"pay his own expenses, and do no mischief. "*
To these Four Things they pledge their word of honour;
and Hyndford signs and delivers each a Copy. Unwritten a
Fifth Thing is settled, That the present transaction in all
parts of it shall be secret as death, -- his Majesty expressly in-
sisting that, if the least inkling of it ooze out, he shall have
right to deny it, and refuse in any way to be bound by it.
Which likewise is assented to.
Here is a pretty piece of work done for ourself and
our allies, while Valori is quietly dining with the
Prince of Dessau! The King staid about two hours;
was extremely polite, and even frank and communi-
cative. "A very high-spirited young King," thinks
Neipperg, reporting of it; "will not stand contradiction;
"but a great deal can be made of him, if you go into
"his ideas, and humour him in a delicate dextrous
"way. He did not the least hide his engagements with
"France, Bavaria, Saxony, but would really, so far as
"I Neipperg could judge, prefer friendship with Aus-
"tria, on the given terms; and seems to have secretly
"a kind of pique at Saxony, and no favour for the
"French and their plans. " **
* Given in Uelden-Geschichle, i. 1009; in &c.
** Orlich, i. 149 (in condensed state).
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? 88 FIRST SILBSIAN WAR ENDS. [bOOk VIII.
9th Oct. 1741.
"Business being done" (this is Hyndford's report),
"the King, who had been politeness itself, took Neip-
"perg aside, beckoning Hyndford to be of the party,
"'I wish you too, my Lord, to hear every word: --
"his Britannic Majesty knows or should know my in-
"tentions never were to do him hurt, but only to take
"care of myself; and pray inform him' (what is the
"fact), 'that I have ordered my Army in Brandenburg
"to go into winter-quarters, and break up that Camp
"at Gottin. " Friedrich's talk to Neipperg is, How he
"may assault the French with advantage: 'Join Lobko-
"witz and what force he has in Bohmen; go right into
"your enemies, before they can unite there. If the
"Queen prosper, I shall -- perhaps I shall have no
"objection to join her by and by? If her Majesty fail;
"well, every one must look to himself. "' These words
Hyndford listened to, with an edacious solid counten-
ance, and greedily took them down. *
Once more, a curious glimpse (perhaps imprudently
allowed us, in the circumstances) into the real inner
man of Friedrich. He had, at this time, now that the
Belleisle Adventure is left in such a state, no essential
reason to wish the French ruined, -- nor probably did
he; but only stated both chances, as in the way of
unguarded soliloquy; and was willing to leave Neip-
perg a sweet morsel to chew. Secret mode of corre-
sponding with the Court of Austria is agreed upon;
not direct, but through certain Commandants, till the
Peace-Treaty be perfected, -- at latest "by December
24th," we hope. And so, "Bon voyage, and well across
the Mountains, M. le Marechal; till we meet again!
And you, Excellency Hyndford, be so good you as
* Hyndford's Despatch, Breslau, 14th October 1741.
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? CHAr. V. ] FRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 89
9th Oct. 1741.
'write to me, -- for Valori's behoof, -- complaining that
I am deaf to all proposals, that nothing can be had of
me. And other Letters, pray, of the like tenor, all
round; to Presburg, to England, to Dresden: -- if the
Couriers are seized, it shall be well. 'Your Letter to
myself, let a trumpet come with it while I am at
dinner,' and Valori beside me! " -- "Certainly, your
Majesty," answers Hyndford; and does it, does all this;
which produces a soothing effect on Valori, poor
soul!
Friedrieh takes Neisse by Sham Siege (Capture not Sham);
gets Homaged in Breslati; and returns to Berlin.
Thus, if the Austrians hold to their bargain, ha$
Friedrieh, in a most compendious manner, got done
with a Business which threatened to be infinite: by
this short cut he, for his part, is quite out of the waste
howling jungle of Enchanted Forest, and his foot again
on the firm free Earth. If only the Austrians hold to
their bargain! But probably he doubts if they will.
Well, even in that case, he has got Neisse; stands pre-
pared for meeting them again; and, in the mean while,
has freedom to deny that there ever was such a
bargain.
Of the Political morality of this game of fast-and-
loose, what have we to say,-- except that the dice on
both sides seem to be loaded; that logic might be
chopped upon it forever; that a candid mind will settle
what degree of wisdom (which is always essentially
veracity), and what of folly (which is always falsity),
there was in Friedrieh and the others; whether, or to
what degree, there was a better course open to Fried-
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? 90 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book Xm.
l6th Oct. 1741.
rich in the circumstances: -- and, in fine, it will have
to be granted that you cannot work in pitch and keep
hands evidently clean. Friedrich has got into the
Enchanted Wilderness, populous with devils and their
works; -- and, alas, it will be long before he get out
of it again, his life waning towards night before he get
victoriously out, and bequeath his conquest to luckier
successors! It is one of the tragic elements of this
King's life; little contemplated by him, when he went
lightly into the Silesian Adventure, looking for honour
bright, what he called "gloire" as one principal con-
sideration, hardly a year ago! --
Neipperg, according to covenant, broke up punc-
tually that_ day week, October 16th; and went over
the Mountains, through Jagerndorf, Troppau, towards
Mahren; Prussians hanging on his rear, and skirmish-
ing about, but only for imaginary or ostensible pur-
poses. After a three weeks march, he gets to a place
called Frating, * easternmost border of Mahren, on the
slopes of the Mannhartsberg Hill-Country, which is
within wind of Vienna itself; where, as we can fancy,
his presence is welcome as morning-light in the present
dark circumstances.
Friedrich, on the morrow after Neipperg went, in-
vested Neisse (October 17th); set about the Siege of
Neisse with all gravity, as if it had been the most
earnest operation; which nobody of mankind, except
three or four, doubted but it was. Before opening of
the trenches, Leopold young Dessauer took the road
for Glatz Country, and the adjoining Circles of Bo-
hemia; there to canton himself, peaceably according to
contract; and especially to have an eye upon Glatz,
* Espagnac, i. 104.
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? CHAP. v. ] FRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 91
17th-27th Oct. 1741. j
should the Klein-Schnellendorf engagement go awry in
any point. The King in his Dialogue with Neipperg
had said several things about Glatz, and what a sacri-
fice he made there for the sake of speedy peace, the
French having guaranteed him Glatz, though he now
forbore it. Leopold, who has with him some 15,000
horse and foot, cantons himself judiciously in those
ultramontane parts, -- "all the artillery in the Glatz
Country;"* -- and we shall hear of him again, by
and by, in regard to other business that rises there.
Neisse is a formidable Fortress, much strengthened
since last year; but here is a Besieger with much
better chance! He marked out parallels, sent sum-
monses, reconnoitred, manoeuvred, -- in a way more
or less surprising to the eye of Valori, who is military,
and'knows about sieges. Rather singular, remarks
Valori; good engineers much wanted here! But the
bombardment did finally begin: night of October 26th-
27th, the Prussians opened fire; and, at a terrible rate,
cannonaded and bombarded without intermission. In
point of fire and noise it is tremendous; Valori
trusts it may be effective, in spite of faults; goes to
Breslau in hope: "Yes, go to Breslau, mon clier Valori;
wait for me there. Neipperg be chased, say you?
Shall not he, -- if we had got this place! " And so
the fire continues night and day. **
Fantastic Bielfeld, in his semi-fabulous style, has a
Letter on this bombardment, attractive to Lovers of the
Picturesque, -- (written long afterwards, and dated &c.
wrong). As Bielfeld is a rapid clever creature of the
coxcomb sort, and doubtless did see Neisse Siege, and
* Helden-Geschichte, ii. 431; Orlich, i. 174.
** Helden-Geschichle, i. 1006.
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? 92 FIRST SILBSIAN WAR ENDS. [book Xin.
17th-31st Oct. 1741.
entertained seemingly a blazing incorrect recollection
of it, his Pseudo-Neisse Letter may be worth giving,
to represent approximately what kind of scene it was
there at Neisse in the October nights:
"Mare'chal Schwerin was lodged in a Village, about three-
"quarters of a mile from Head-Quarters. One day he did me
"the honour to invite me to dinner; and even offered me a
"horse to ride thither with him. I found excellent company;
"a superb repast, and wine of the gods. Host and guests were
"in high spirits; and the pleasures of the table were kept up
"so late, that it was midnight when we rose. I was obliged
"to return to Head-Quarters, having still to wait upon the
"King, as usual. The Marechal was kind enough to lend me
"another horse; but the groom mischievously gave me the
"charger which the Marechal rode at the Battle of Mollwitz;
"a very powerful animal, and which, from that day, had
'' grown very skittish.
"I was made aware of this circumstance, before we*were
"fairly out of the Village; and the night being of the darkest,
"I twenty times ran the risk of breaking my neck. We had
"to pass over a hill, to get to Head-Quarters. WhenI reached
"the top, a shudder came over me, and my hair stood on end.
"I had nobody with me but a strange groom. The country
"all around was infested with troops and marauders; I was
"mounted on an unmanageable horse.
Under my feet, so to
"say, I saw the bombardment of the Town of Neisse. I heard
"the roar of cannon and doleful shrieks. Above our batteries
"the whole atmosphere was inflamed; and to complete the
"calamity, I missed the way, and got lost in the darkness.
"Finally, in descending the hill, my horse, frightened, made a
"terrible swerve or side-jump. I did not know the cause; but
"after having, with difficulty, got him into the road again, I
"found myself opposite to a deserter who had been hanged
"that day! I was horribly disgusted by the sight; the gallows
"being very low, and the head of the malefactor almost
"parallel with mine. I spurred on, and galloped away from
"such unpleasant night-company. At last I arrived at Head-
"Quarters, all in a perspiration. I sent my horse back; and
"went in to the King, who asked me at once, why I was so
"heated. I made his Majesty a faithful report of all my
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? CHAP. v. ] PRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 93
1st Nov. 1741.
"disasters. He laughed much; and advised me seriously not
"again to go out by night, and alone, beyond the circuit of
"Head- Quarters. " *
After four days and nights of this sublime Play-
house thunder (with real bullets in it, which killed
some men, and burnt considerable property), the Neisse
Commandant (not Roth this time, Roth is now in
Briinn), -- his "fortnight of siege," October 17th to
October 31st, being accomplished or nearly so, -- beat
chamade; and was, after grave enough treatying,
allowed to march away. Marched, accordingly, on the
correct Klein-Schnellendorf terms; most of his poor
garrison deserting, and taking Prussian service. Ever
since which moment, Neisse, captured in this curious
manner, has been Friedrich's and his Prussia's.
November 1st, the Prussian soldiers entered the
place; and Friedrich, after diligent inspection and what
orders were necessary, left for Brieg on the following
day, -- where general illuminating and demonstrating
awaited him, amid more serious business. After strict
examinations, and approval of Walrave and his works
at Brieg, he again takes the road; enters Breslau, in
considerable state (November 4th); where many Per-
sons of Quality are waiting, and the general Homaging
is straightway to be, -- or indeed should have been
some days ago, but has fallen behind by delays in the
Neisse affair.
The Breslau Iluldigung, -- Friedrich sworn-to and
bomaged with the due solemnities as "Sovereign Duke
of Lower Silesia," -- was an event to throw into fine
temporary frenzy the descriptive Gazetteers, and Breslau
City, overflowing with Quality people come to act and
* Bielfeld, ii. 31, 32.
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? 94 FIRST SILESIAN WAE ENDS. [book xm.
7th Nov. 1741.
to see on the occasion. Event which can be left to the
reader's fancy, at this date. There were Corporations
out in quantity, "all in cloaks," and with sublime
Addresses, partly in poetry, happily rather brief. There
were beautiful Prussian Lifeguards ("First Battalion,"
admirable to the softer sex, not to speak of the harder);
much military resonance and splendour. Friedrich
drove about in carriages-and-six, "nay carriage-and-
eight, horses cream-colour:" a very high King indeed;
and a very busy one, for those four days (November
4th-8th, 1741), but full of grace and condescension.
The Huldigung itself took effect on the 7th; in the fine
old Rathhaus, which Tourists still know, -- the sur-
rounding Apple-women sweeping themselves clear away
for one day. Ancient Ducal throne and proper apparatus
there was; state sword unluckily wanting: Schwerin,
who was to act Grand-Marshal, could find no state-
sword, till Friedrich drew his own and gave it him. *
Podewils the Minister said something, not too much;
to which one Prittwitz, head of a Silesian Family of
which we shall know individuals, made pithy and
pretty response, before swearing. "There were above
Four Hundred of Quality present, all in gala. " The
customary Free-Gift of the Stande Friedrich magnani-
mously refused: "Impossible to be a burden to our
Silesia in such harassed war-circumstances, instead of
benefactor and protector, as we intended and intend! "
The Ceremony, swearing and all, was over in two
hours; hundreds of silver medals, not to speak of the
gold ones, flying about; and Breslau giving itself up
joyfully to dinner and festivities. And, after dinner,
that evening, to Illumination; followed by balls and
* Helden-Geschichle, i. 1022,1025; ii. 349.
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? CHAP. v. ] FRIEDRICH GETS NEISSE, IN A FASHION. 95
lltk Nov. 1741.
jubilations for days after, in a highly harmonious key.
Of the lamps-festoons, astonishing transparencies, and
glad symbolic devices, I could say a great deal; but
will mention only two, both of comfortably edible or
quasi-edible tendency:
1o. That of David Schulze, Flesher by profession; who
had a Transparency large as life, representing his own fat
Person in the act of felling a fat Ox; to which was appended
this epigraph:
"Wer mir wird den Konig in Preussen verachten,
"Den will ich wie diesen Ochsen schlachlen"
"Who dares me the King of Prussia insult,
"Him I will serve like this fat head of nolt. "
Signed "David Schulze, a Brandenbubgeb. " --
And then,
20. How, in another quarter, there was set aloft in re, by
some Pastrycook of patriotic turn: "An actual Ox roasted
"whole; filled with pheasants, partridges, grouse, hares and
"geese; Prussian Eagle atop, made of roasted fowls, larks and
"the like,"--unattainable,! doubt, except for money down. *
On the fifth morning, 9th November, -- after much
work done during this short visit, much ceremonial
audiencing, latterly, and raising to the peerage, --
Friedrich rolled on to Glogau. Took accurate survey
of the engineering and other interests there, for a
couple of days; thence to Berlin (noon of the 11th),
joyfully received by Eoyal Family and all the world;
-- and, as we might fancy, asking himself: "Am I
actually home, then; out of the enchanted jungles and
their devilries; safe here, and listening, I alone in
Peace, to the universal din of War? " Alas, no; that
was a beautiful hypothesis; too beautiful to be long
credible! Before reaching Berlin, -- or even Breslau,
* Helden-Geschichte, ii. 359.
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? 96 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIH.
llttl Nov. 1741.
as appears, -- Friedrich, vigilantly scanning and dis-
cerning, had seen that fine hope as good as vanish;
and was silently busy upon the opposite one.
In a fortnight hence, Hyndford, who had followed
to Berlin, got transient sight of the King one morning,
hastening through some apartment or other: "'My
"Lord,' said the King, 'the Court of Vienna has entirely
"divulged our secret. Dowager Empress Amelia'
"(Kaiser Joseph's widow, mother of Karl Albert's wife)
"'has acquainted the Court of Bavaria with it;
"Wasner' (Austrian Minister at Paris) 'has told
"Fleury; Sinzendorf (ditto at Petersburg) 'has told
"the Court of Russia; Robinson, through Mr. Villiers'
"(your Saxon Minister), 'has told the Court of Dresden;
"and several members of your Government in England
"have talked publicly about it! ' And, with a shrug
"of the shoulders, he left me," -- standing somewhat
agape there. *
* Hyndford, Despatch, Berlin, 28tb November 1741; Breslau, 28th
October (secret already known).
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? CHAP. VI. ] MAYOR OF LANDSHUT SPEAKING- 97
4th Dec. 1741.
CHAPTER VI.
NEW MAYOR OF LANDSHUT MAKES AN INSTALLATION
SPEECH.
The late general Homaging at Breslau, and solemn
Taking Possession of the Country by King Friedrich,
under sueh peaceable omens, had straightway, as we
gather, brought about, over Silesia at large, or at least
where pressingly needful, various little alterations, --
rectifications, by the Prussian model and new rule now
introduced. Of which, as it is better that the reader
have some dim notion, if easily procurable, than none
at all, I will offer him one example; -- itself dim
enough, but coming at first-hand, in the actual or con-
crete form, and beyond disputing in whatever light or
twilight it may yield us.
At Landshut, a pleasant little Mountain Town, in
the Principality of Schweidnitz, high up, on the infant
River Bober, near the Bohemian Frontier -- (English
readers may see Quincey Adams's description of it, and
of the long wooden spouts which throw cataracts on
you, if walking the streets in rain*): -- at Landshut,
as in some other Towns, it had been found good jto
remodel the Town Magistracy a little; to make it
partly Protestant, for one thing, instead of Catholic
(and Austrian), which it had formerly been. Details
about the "high controversies and discrepancies" which
had risen there, we have absolutely none; nor have
* John Qaincey Adams (afterwards President of the United States),
Letters on Silesia (London, 1804). "The wooden spouts are now gone"
(Hols, of 1858).
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VII. '
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? ? 98 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
4th Dec. 1741.
the special functions of the Magistracy, what powers
they had, what work they did, in the least become
distinct to us: we gather only that a certain nameless
Biirgermeister (probably Austrian and Catholic) had,
by "Most gracious Royal Special-Order," been at
length relieved from his labours, and therewith "the
"much by him persecuted and afflicted Herr Theodoras
"Spener" been named Burgermeister instead. Which
respectable Herr Theodorus Spener, and along with
him Herr Johann David Fischer as Baths-Senior, and
Herr Johann Caspar Eiiffer, and also Herr Johann
Jacob Umminger, as new Eaths (how many of the old
being left, I cannot say), were accordingly, on the 4th
of December 1741, publicly installed, and with proper
solemnity took their places; all Landshut looking on,
with the conceivable interest and astonishment, almost
as at a change in the obliquity of the ecliptic, --
change probably for the better.
Respectable Herr Theodorus Spener (we hope it is
Spener, for they print him Speer in one of the two
places, and we have to go by guess) is ready with an
Installation Speech on the occasion; and his Speech
was judged so excellent, that they have preserved it
in print. 'Us it by no means strikes by its Demosthenic
or other qualities: meanwhile we listen to it with the
closest attention; hoping, in our great ignorance, to
gather from it some glimmerings of instruction as to
the affairs, humours, disposition and general outlook
and condition of Landshut, and Silesia in that juncture;
-- and though a good deal disappointed, have made
an Abstract of it in the English language, which per-
haps the reader too, in his great ignorance, will accept,
in defect of better. Scene is Landshut among the
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? CHAP. VI. ] MAYOR OF LANDSHTJT SPEAKING. 99
<<h Dec. 1741.
Giant Mountains on the Bohemian Border of Silesia:
an old stone Town, where there is from of old a busy
trade in thread and linen; Town consisting, as is com-
mon there, of various narrow winding streets compar-
able to spider-legs, and of a roomy central market-
place comparable to the body of the spider; wide
irregular Market-place with the wooden spouts (dry for
the moment) all projecting round it. Time, 4th De-
cember 1741 (doubtless in the forenoon); unusual crowd
of population simmering about the Market-place, and
full audience of the better sort gravely attentive in
the interior of the Eathhaus; Burgermeister Spener
bquitur* (liable to abridgment here and there, on
warning given):
"I enter, then, in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, upon
"an Office, to which Divine Providence has appointed, and
"the gracious and potent hand of a great King has raised me.
"Great as is the dignity" (giddy height of Mayoralty in
Landshut), "though undeserved, which the Ever Merciful has
"thus conferred upon me, equally great and much greater is
"the burden connected therewith. Iconfess" -- He confesses,
in high-stalking earnest wooden language very foreign to us
in every way: (1 o. ) That his shoulders are too weak; but that
he trusts in God. For (2o. ) it is God's doing; and He that
has called Spener, will give Spener strength; the essential
work being to do God's will, to promote His honour, and the
common weal. (3o. ) That he comes out of a smaller Office
(Office not distinctly specified, but seems to have been a Se-
nior Rathship), and has taken upon him the Mayoralty of this
Town (an evident fact! ); but that the labour and responsibility
are dreadfully increased; and that the point is not increase of
honour, of respectability or income, but of heavy duties. (A
sonorous, pious-minded Spener; much more in earnest than
readere now think! )
"It is easy," intimates he, "to govern a Town, if," as some
have perhaps done, "you follow simply your own will,regard-
* Helden-Geschichte, ii. 416.
7*
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? 100 FIUST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book sin.
4th Dec. 1741.
"Ies3 of the sighs and complaints your subjects utter for in-
justice undergone, -- indifferent to the thought that the
"caprice of one Town Sovereign is to be glorified by so many
"thousand tears" (dim glance into the past history of Lands-
hut! ). "Such Town Sovereign persecutes innocence, stops
"his ears to its cry; flourishes his sharp scourge; -- no one
"shall complain: tor is it not justice? thinks such a Town
"Sovereign. The reason is, He does not know himself, poor
"man; has had his eye always on the duties of his subjects
"towards him, and rarely or never on his towards them. A
"Sovereign Mayor that governs by fear,---he must live in
"continual fear of every one, and of himself withal. A weak
"basis; and capable of total overturn in one day. On the con-
"trary, the love of your burgher subjects: that, if you can
"kindle it, will go on like a house on fire (Ausbruch cine. *
"Fetters), and streams of water won't put it out. " * * "And"
(let us now take Spener's very words) "if a man keep the fear
"of God before his eyes, there will be no need for any oilier
"kind of fear.
"I will therefore, you especially High-honoured Gentle-
"men, study to direct allmy judicial endeavours to the honour
"of the Great God, and to inviolable fidelity towards my most
"gracious King and Lord" (Friedrich, by Decision of Pro-
vidence -- at Mollwitz and elsewhere).
"To the Citizens of this Town, from of old so dear to me,
"and now by Royal grace committed to my charge, aud tbere-
"fore doubly and trebly to be held dear, I mean to devote my-
"self altogether. I will, on every occasion and occurrence,
"still more expressly than aforetime, stand by them; and
"when need is, not fail to bring their case before the just
"Throne of our Anointed" (Friedrich, by Decision of Pro-
vidence). "Justice and fairness I will endeavour, under
"whatever complexities, to make my load-star. Yes, I shall
"and will, by means of this my Office, equip myself with
"weapons whereby I may be capable to damp such humours
"(InleUu/entien), should such still such be (but I believe there
"arc now none such), as may repugn against the Royal inter-
"est, with possibility of being dangerous; and to put a bridle
"on mouths that are unruly. And, to say much in little com-
"pass, I will be faithful to God, to my King and to this Town.
"Having now the honour and happiness to be put into an
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? CHAP.
