No More Learning

18th July -- 2Sth Aug. 1756.
CHAPTER IV.
FRIEDRICH PUTS A QUESTION AT VIENNA, TWICE OVER.
July 18th, 1756, Friedrich despatches an Express
to Graf von Klinggraf, his Resident at Vienna (an ex-
perienced man, whom we have seen before in old
Carteret, "Conference-of-Hanau" times), To demand
audience of the Empress; and, in the fittest terms,
friendly and courteous, brief and clear, to put that
question of Mitchell's suggesting. "Those unwonted
Armaments, Camps in Bohmen, Camps in Mahren, and
military movements and preparations," Klinggraf is to
say, "have caused anxiety in her Majesty's peacable
Neighbour of Prussia; who desires always to continue
in peace; and who requests hereby a word of assurance
from her Majesty, that these his anxieties are ground-
less. " Friedrich himself hopes little or nothing from
this; but he has done it to satisfy people about him,
and put an end to all scruples in himself and others.
The Answer may be expected in ten or twelve days.
And, about the same time, -- likely enough,
directly after, though there is no date given, to a fact
which is curious and authentic, -- Friedrich sent for
two of his chief Generals to Potsdam for a secret Con-
ference with Winterfeld and him. The Generals are,
old Schwerin and General Retzow Senior, -- Major-
General Retzow, whom we used to hear of in the Sile-
sian Wars, -- and whose Son reports on this occasion.
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? CHAP. IV. ] FRIEDRICh's QUESTION AT VIENNA. 241
ISth July--28th Aug. 1756.
Conference is on this Imminency of War, and as to
what shall be done in it. Friedrich explains in general
terms his dangers from Austria and Russia, his certainty
that Austria will attack him; and asks, Were it, or
were it not, better to attack Austria, as is our Prussian
principle in such case? Schwerin and Retzow, --
Schwerin first, as the eldest; and after him Retzow,
"who privately has charge from the Prussian Princes
to do it," -- opine strongly: That indications are un-
certain, that much seems unevitable which does not
come; that in a time of such tumultuous whirlings and
unexpected changes, the true rule is, Watch well, and
wait.
After enough of this, with Winterfeld looking dis-
sent but saying almost nothing, Friedrich gives sign to
Winterfeld; -- who spreads out, in their lucidest prear-
ranged order, the principal Menzel-Weingarten Docu-
ments; and bids the two Military Gentlemen read.
They read; with astonishment, are forced do believe;
stand gazing at one another; -- and to now take a
changed tone. Schwerin, "after a silence of everybody
"for some minutes," -- "bursts out like one inspired:
"'If War is to be and must be, let us start to-morrow;
'"seize Saxony at once; and in that rich corny Country,
"'form Magazines for our Operations on Bohemia! '"*
That is, privately, Friedrich's own full intention.
Saxony, with its Elbe River as Highway, is his indis-
pensable preliminary for Bohemia: and he will not, a
second time, as he did in 1744 with such results, leave
it in an wn-secured condition. Adieu then, Messieurs;
silent: au revoir, which may be soon! Retzow Junior,
a rational, sincere, but rather pipeclayed man, who is
Retzow, i. 39.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. IX. 16
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? 242 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
18th July -- 28th Aug. 1756.
wholly to be trusted on this Conference, with his
Father for authority, has some touches of commentary
on it, which indicate (date being 1802) that till the
end of his life, or of Prince Henri his Patron's, there
remained always in some heads a doubt as to Fried-
rich's wisdom in regard to starting the Seven-Years
War, and to Schwerin's entire sincerity in that inspired
speech. And still more curious, that there was always,
at Potsdam as elsewhere, a Majesty's Opposition Party;
privately intent to look at the wrong side; and doing
it diligently, -- though with lips strictly closed for
most part; without words, except well-weighed and to
the wise: which is an excellent arrangement, for a
Majesty and Majesty's Opposition, where feasible in
the world! --
From Retzow I learn farther, that Winterfeld,
directly on the back of this Conference, took a Tour
to the Bohemian Baths, "To Karlsbad, or Toplitz, for
one's health;" and wandered about a good deal in
those Frontier Mountains of Bohemia, taking notes,
taking sketches (not with a picturesque view); and re-
turned by the Saxon Pirna Country, a strange stony
labyrinth, which he guessed might possibly be inter-
esting soon. The Saxon Commandant of the Konig-
stein, lofty Fortress of those parts, strongest in Saxony,
was of Winterfeld's acquaintance: Winterfeld called on
this Commandant; found his Konigstein too high for
cannonading those neighbourhoods, but that there was
at the base of it a new Work going on; and that the
Saxons were, though languidly, endeavouring to bestir
themselves in matters military. Their entire Army at
present is under 20,000; but, in the course of next
Winter, they expect to have it 40,000. Shall be of
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? CHAP. IT. ]' FRIEDRICH'S QUESTION AT VIENNA. 243
26th July 1756.
that force, against Season 1757. No doubt Winter-
feld's gatherings and communications had their uses at
Potsdam, on his getting home from this Tour to Toplitz.
Meanwhile, Klinggraf has had his Audience at
Vienna; and has sped as ill as could have been ex-
pected. The Answer given was of supercilious brevity;
evasive, in effect null, and as good as answering,
That there is no answer. Two Accounts we have, as
Friedrich successively had them, of this famed passage:
first, Klinggraf s own, which is clear, rapid, and stands
by the essential; second, an account from the other side
of the scenes, furnished by Menzel of Dresden, for
Friedrich's behoof and ours; which curiously illustrates
the foregoing, and confirms the interpretation Friedrich
at once made of it. This is Menzel's account; in
other words, the Saxon Envoy at Vienna's, stolen by
Menzel.
July 26th, it appears, Klinggraf, -- having ap-
plied to Kaunitz the day before, who noticed a certain
flurry in him, and had answered carelessly, "Audience?
Yes, of course; nay I am this moment going to the
Empress: only you must tell me about what? " -- was
admitted to the Imperial Presence, he first of many
that were waiting. Imperial Presence held in its hand a
snip of Paper; carefully composed by Kaunitz from the
data, and read these words: "Die bedenklichen Um-
"stande, The questionable circumstances of the Time
"have moved me to consider as indispensably necessary
"those measures which, for my own security and for
"defence of my Allies, I am taking, and which other-
"wise do not tend the least towards injury of anybody
"whatsoever;" -- and adding no syllable more, gave
16*
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? 244 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [BOOK XVII.
2d Aug. 1756.
a sign with her hand, intimating to Klinggraf that the
Interview was done. Klinggraf strode through the
Antechamber, "visibly astonished," say onlookers,
at such an Answer had. Answer, in fact, "That
there is no Answer," and the door flung in your
face! *
Friedrich, on arrival of report from Klinggraf, and
without waiting for the Menzel side of the scenes, sees
that the thing is settled. Writes again, however
(August 2d, probably the day after, or the same day,
Klinggrafs Despatch reached him); instructing Kling-
graf To request "a less oracular response;" and
specially, "If her Imperial Majesty (Austria and Russia being, as is understood, in active League against him)
will say, That Austria will not attack him this year or
the next? " Draw up memorial of that, Monsieur Kling-
graf; and send us the supercilious No-Answer: till
which arrive we do not cross the Frontier, -- but are
already everywhere on march to it, in an industrious,
cunningly devised, evident and yet impenetrably mys-
terious manner.
Excellency Valori never saw such activity of mili-
tary preparation: such Artillery, "2,000 big pieces in
the Park here;" Regiments, Wagon-trains, getting
under way everywhere, no man can guess witherward;
"drawn up in the Square here, they know not by what
"Gate they are to march. " By three different Gates,
I should think; -- mysteriously, in Three Directions,
known only to King Friedrich and his Adjutant-
General, all these Regiments in Berlin and elsewhere
* Helden-Geschichte, m. 772. In Valori, n. 128, Friedrioh's little Paper of Instructions to Klinggraf; this Vienna Answer to it, ib. 138: -- see ib. 138,
162; and Gesammelte Nachrichten, n. 214-221.
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? CHAP. IV. ] friedrich's QUESTION AT VIENNA. 245
15th-29th Aug. 1756.
are on march. Towards Halle (Leipzig way); towards
Brietzen (Wittenberg and Torgau way); towards
Bautzen neighbourhood, -- towards Three settled
Points of the Saxon Frontier; will step across, the in-
stant the supercilious No-Answer comes to hand.
Are to converge about Dresden and the Saxon Switzer-
land; -- about 65,000 strong, equipped as no Army
before or since has been; -- and take what luck there
may be.
Briihl and Polish Majesty's Army, still only about
18,000, have their apprehensions of such visit: but
what can they do? The Saxon Army draws out into
Camp, at sight of this mysterious marching; strong
Camp "in the angle of Elbe and Mulde Rivers;" --
then draws in again; being too weak for use. And is
thinking, Menzel informs us, to take post in the stony
labyrinthic Pirna Country: such the advice an Excel-
lency Broglio has given; -- French Excellency, now
in Dresden; Mare'chal de Broglio's Son, and of little less
explosive nature than his Father was. Briihl and
Polish Majesty, guessing that the hour is come, are in-
finitely interested. Interested, not flurried. "Austrian-
Russian Anti-Prussian Covenant! " say Briihl and
Majesty, rather comfortably to themselves: "We never
signed it. We never would sign anything; what have
we to do with it? Courage; steady; To Pirna, if they
come! Are not Excellency Broglio, and France, and
Austria, and the whole world at our back? "
It was full three weeks before Klinggraf s Message
of Answer could arrive at Berlin. Of Friedrich in the
interim, launching such a world-adventure, himself
silent, in the midst of a buzzing Berlin, take these in-
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? 246 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
15lh-26tli Aug. 1750.
dications, which are luminous enough. Duke Ferdi-
nand of Brunswick is to head one of the Three
"Columns. " Duke Ferdinand, Governor of Magdeburg,
is now collecting his Column in that neighbourhood,
chiefly at Halle; whitherward, or on what errand, is
profoundly unknown. Unknown even to Ferdinand,
except that it is for actual Service in the Field. Here
are two Friedrich Letters (ruggedly Official, the first
of them, and not quite peculiar to Ferdinand), 'which
are worth reading:
The King to Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick.
"Potsdam, 15th August 1756.
"For time of Field-Service I have made the arrangement,
"That for the Subaltern Officers of your regiment, over and
"above their ordinary Equipage-moneys, there shall, to each
"Subaltern Officer, and once for all, be Eight Thalers"
(twenty-four shillings sterling) "advanced. That sum" (eight
thalers per subaltern) "shall be paid to the Captain of every
"Company; and besides this there shall, monthly, Two
"Thalers be deducted from the Subaltern's Pay, and be like-
"wise paid over to the Captain: --in return for which, He is to
"furnish Free Table for the Subalterns, throughout the Cam-
paign, and so long as the regiment is in the field.
"Of the Two Baggage-carts per Company, the regiment
"shall take only One, and leave the other at home. No Officer,
"let him be who or of what title he will, Generals not excepted,
"shall take with him the least of Silver Plate, not even a silver
"spoon. Whoever wants, therefore, to keep table, great or
"small (Tafel oder Tisch), must manage the same with tin uten-
"sils; -- without exception, be he who he will.
"Each Captain shall take with him a little Cask of Vinegar;
"of which, so soon as the regiments get to Camp, he must give
"me reckoning, and I will then have him repaid. This Vme-
"gar shall solely and exclusively be employed for this pur-
pose, That in places where the water is bad, there be poured
'into it, for the soldiers, a few drops of the vinegar, to correct
'the water, and thereby preserve them from illnesses.
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? CHAP. IV. ] friedrich's QUESTION AT VIENNA. 247
15th-26tu Aug. 1756.
"So soon as the regiment gets on march, the Women who
"have permission to follow, are put under command of the
"Profoss; that thereby all plunderings and disorders may the
"more be guarded against. If the Captains and officers take
"Grooms (Jager) or the like Domestics, there can muskets be
"given to these, that use may be had of them, incase of an
"attack in quarters, or on march, when a Wagenburg (wagon-
"fortress) is to be formed. * * -- Friedrich. "-|-
Same to Same (Confidential, this one).
"Potsdam, 24th August.
* * "Make as if you were meaning to go into camp at
"Halle. The reason why I stop you is, that the Courier from
"Vienna has not yet come. We must therefore reassure the
"Saxon neighbourhood. * * I have been expecting answer
"from hour to hour; cannot suitably begin a War-Expedition
"till it come; do therefore apprise Your Dilection, though
"under the deepest secrecy.
"And it is necessary, and my Will is, That, till further
"order, you keep all the regiments and corps belonging to
"your Column in the places where they are when this arrives.
"And shall, meanwhile, with your best skill mask all this,
"both from the Town of Halle, and from the regiments them-
"selves; making, in conformity with what I said yesterday, "as if you were a Corps of Observation come to encamp
"here, and were waiting the last orders to go into camp. --
"FKIEDBICH. "tt
And in regard to the Vienna Courier, and Fried-
rich's attitude towards that Phenomenon, read only
these Two Notes:
1? . Friedrich to the Prince of Prussia and the Princess Amelia
(at Berlin).
Potsdam, "25th August" 1756.
"My deAr Brother, My deAr Sister, -- I write to you both
"at once, for want of time. I will follow the advice you are so t Preuss, n. 0, 7. tt Preuss, n. 7. 8.
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? 248 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
26th Aug. 1756.
"good as give me; and will take leave of the Queen" (our dear
Mamma) "by Letter.
And that reading of my Letter may not
"frighten her, I will send it by my Sister, to be presented in a
"favourable moment.
"I have yet got no Answer from Vienna; by Klinggraf's
"account, I shall not receive it till tomorrow"(came this night).
"But I count myself surer of War than ever; as the Austrians
"have named Generals, and their Army is ordered to march,
"from Kolin to Konigsgratz"-- Schlesien way. "So that,
"expecting nothing but a haughty Answer, or a very uncertain
"one, on which there will be no reliance possible, I have
"arranged everything for setting out on Saturday next. To-
"morrow, so soon as the news comes, I will not fail to let you
"know. Assuring you that I am, with a perfect affection, my
"dear Brother and my dear Sister, -- Yours, -- F. "*
Answer comes from Klinggraf, that same night.
Once more, an Answer almost worse than could have
been expected. "The 'League with Russia against
you' is non-extant, a thing of your imagination: Have
not we already answered? "** Whereupon,
2? . Friedrich to the Prince of Prussia.
Potsdam, "26th August" 1756.
"MydeArBbother,--Ihave already written to the Queen;
"softening things as much as I could" (Letter lost). My
"Sister, to whom I address the Letter, will deliver it.
"You have seen the Paper I sent to Klinggraf. Their
"Answer is, 'That they have not made an Offensive Alliance
"' with Russia against me. ' The Answer is impertinent, high,
"and contemptuous; and of the Assurance that I required"
(as to This Year and next), "not one word. So that the sword
"alone can cut this Gordian Knot. I am innocent of this
"War; I have done what I could to avoid it; but whatever be
"one's love of peace, one cannot and must not sacrifice to
* (Euvres de Frederic, xxvi. 155.
** In GesammelleUrkunden, i. 217: Klinggraf s second question (done by
Letter, this time), "18th August;" Maria Theresa's Answer, "21stAugust. "
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? CHAP. IV. ] PRIEDRICh's QUESTION AT VIENNA. 249
26th Aug. 1756.
"that, one's safety and one's honour. Such, I believe, will be
"your opinion too, from the sentiments I know in you. At
"present, our one thought must be, To do War in such a way
"as may cure our Enemies of their wish to break Peace again
"too soon. I embrace you with all my heart. I have had no
"end of business (terriblement a faire). " -- F. *
The March into Saxony, in Three Columns.
Ahead of that last Note, from an earlier hour of
the same day, Thursday, 26th August, there is speed-
ing forth, to all Three Generals of Division, this Order
(take Duke Ferdinand's copy):
"I hereby order that Your Dilection (Ew. Liebden), with
"all the regiments and corps in the Column standing under
"your command, Shall now, without more delay,get on march,
"on the 29th inst. ; and proceed, according to the March-
"Tables and Instructions already given, to execute what Your
"Dilection has got in charge. " -- F.
The same Thursday 26th, Excellency Mitchell, in-
formed by Podewils of the King's wish to see him at
Potsdam, gets under way from Berlin; arrives "just
"time enough to speak with the King before he sat
"down to supper. " Very many things to be consulted
of, and deliberatively touched upon, with Mitchell and
England; no end of things and considerations, for Eng-
land and King Friedrich, in this that is now about to
burst forth on an astonished world! --Over in London,
we observe, just in the hours when Mitchell was
harnessing for Potsdam, and so many Orders and Let-
ters were speeding their swiftest in that quarter, there
is going forward, on Tower-Hill yonder, the following
Operation:
* (Enures, xxvi. '_116.
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? 250 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book Xvn.
26th Ang. 1756.
"London, Thursday, 26th August 1756. About five in the
"afternoon, a noted Admiral" (only in Effigy as yet; but who
has been held in miserable durance, and too actual question
of death or life, ever since his return:'Oh, yes, indeed f Hang
him at once,' -- if that can be a remedy! ) "was, after having
"been privately shown to many ladies and gentlemen, brought,
"-- in an open sedan, guarded by a number of young gentle-
"men under arms, with drums beating, colours flying, --to
"Tower-Hill, where a Gallows had been erected for him at
"six the same morning. He was richly dressed, in a blue and
"gold coat, buff waistcoat, trimmed, &c. in full uniform.
"When brought under the Gallows, he staid a small space,
"till his clergyman (a chimney-sweeper) had given him some
"admonitions: that done, he was drawn, by pulleys, to the top
"of the Gallows, which was twenty feet high; every person
"expressing as much satisfaction as if it had been the real
"man.
"He remained there, guarded by the above volunteers,
"without any molestation, two hours; when, upon a supposi-
tion of being obstructed by the Governor of the Tower, some
"sailors appeared, who wanted to pull him down, in order to
"drag him along the streets. But a fire being kindled, which
"consisted of tar-barrels, faggots, tables, tubs, &c. , he was
"consumed in about half an hour. " *
That is their employment on Tower-Hill, over yonder,
while Mitchell is getting under way to see Friedrich.
Mitchell continued at Potsdam over Friday; and
was still in eager consultation that night, when the
King said to him, with a certain expressiveness of
glance: "Bon soir, then; -- Tomorrow morning about
four! " And on the morrow, Saturday 28th, Mitchell
reports hurriedly:
* * "Amiust returned to Berlin, in time to write to your
"Lordship. This morning, between four and five, I took leave
"of the King of Prussia. He went immediately upon the
"Parade; mounted on horseback; and, after a very short
* Old Newpapers (. Gentleman's Magazine, xxvi. 409).
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? cnAp. iv. ] priedrich's qttestion At Vienna. 251
i8lh Aug. --9th Sept. 1756.
"exercise of his Troops, put himself at their head; and
"marched directly forBelitz" (half way toBrietzen, Treuen-
brietzen,as they call it); "where, Tomorrow, he will enter the
"Saxon Territory," -- as, at their respective points, his two
other Columns will; and begin, who shall say what terrible
game; incalculable to your Lordship and me, with such Opera-
tions afoot on Tower-Hill! * --
Seven Hussar Regiments of Duke Ferdinand's
Column got the length of Leipzig that Sunday Even-
ing, 29th; and took possession of the place. ** Duke
Ferdinand to right of the King, Duke of Brunswick-
Bevern to left, -- the Three Columns cross the Border,
at points, say 80 miles from one another; occasionally,
on the march, bending to rightwards and leftwards, to
take in the principal Towns, and make settlements
there, the two might be above 100 miles from Fried-
rich on each hand. The length of march for each
Column, -- Ferdinand "from Leipzig, by Chemnitz,
"Freyberg, Dippoldiswalde, to the Village of Cotta"
(Pirna neighbourhood, south of Elbe); Bevern, "through
"the Lausitz, by Bautzen, to Lohmen" (same neigh-
bourhood, north of Elbe); King Friedrich, to Dresden,
by the course of the Elbe itself, -- was not far from
equal, and may be called about 150 miles. They
marched with diligence, not with hurry; had their
pauses, rest-days, when business required. They got
to their ground, with the simultaneousness appointed,
on the eleventh or twelfth day.
The middle Column, under the King, where
Marshal Keith is second in command, goes by Torgau
* Mitchell Papers, vi. 804 ("To Lord Holderness, 28th August 1756").
** InHelden-Geschichte, m. TSl, his "Proclamation" there, "29thAugust
1756. "
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? 252 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
28th Aug. --9th Sept. 1756.
(detaching Moritz of Dessau to pick up Wittenberg,
and ruin the slight works there); crosses the Elbe at
Torgau, September 2d; marches, cantoning itself day
after day, along the southern bank of the River; leaves
Meissen to the left, I perceive, does not pass through
Meissen; comes first at Wilsdruf on ground where we
have been, -- and portions of it, I doubt not, were
billeted in Kesselsdorf; and would take a glance at the
old Field, if they had time. There is strict discipline
in all the Columns; the authorities complying on sum-
mons, and arranging what is needful. Nobody resists;
townguards at once ground arms, and there is no sol-
dier visible; -- soldiers all ebbing away, whitherward
we guess. *
At Wilsdruf, Friedrich first learns for certain, that
the Saxon Army, with King, with Briihl and other
chief personages, are withdrawn to Pirna, to the inex-
pugnable Konigstein and Rock-Country. The Saxon
Army had begun assembling there, September 1st,
directly on the news that Friedrich was across the
Border; September 9th, on Friedrich's approach, the
King and Dignitaries move off thither, from Dresden,
out of his way. Excellency Broglio has put them on
that plan. Which may have its complexities for Fried-
rich, hopes Broglio, -- though perhaps its still greater
for some other parties concerned! For Briihl and Polish
Majesty, as will appear by and by, nothing could have
turned out worse.
Meanwhile Friedrich pushes on: "Forward, all the
same. " Polish Majesty, dating from Struppen, in the
Pirna Country, has begun a Correspondence with
* Helden-CeicMchte, in. 732-3; (Euvrei de Frederic, iv. 81.
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? CHAP. IT. ] FRIEDKICH's QUESTION AT VIENNA. 253
28th Aug. --9th Sept. 1756.
Friedrich, very polite on both hands; and his Adjutant-
General, the Chevalier Meagher (" Chevalier de Marre" as Valori calls him, -- Ma'ar, as he calls himself in
Irish) has just had, at Wilsdruf, an Interview with
Friedrich; but is far from having got settlement on the
terms he wished. Polish Majesty magnanimously as-
senting to "a Road through his Country for military
purposes;" offers "the strictest Neutrality, strictest
friendship even; has done, and will do, no injury what-
ever to his Prussian Majesty" -- ("Did we ever sign
anything? " whisper comfortably Bruhl and he to one
another); -- "expects, therefore, that his Prussian
Majesty will march on, whither he is bound; and leave
him unmolested here. "*
That was Meagher's message; that is the purport of
all his Polish Majesty's Eleven Letters to Friedrich,
which precede or follow, -- reiterating with a certain
ovine obstinacy, insensible to time or change, That
such is Polish Majesty's fixed notion: "Strict neutrality,
friendship even; and leave me unmolested here. "**
"Strict neutrality, yes: but disperse your Army, then,"
answers Friedrich; "send your Army back to its can-
tonments: I must myself have the keeping of my High-
way, lest I lose it, as in 1744. " This is Friedrich's
answer; this, at first, and for some time coming;
though, as the aspects change, and the dangerous
elements heap themselves higher, Friedrich's answer
will rise with them, and his terms, like the Sibyl's,
become worse and worse. This is the utmost that
<< Helden-Ceschichte, m. 774. ** In (Euvres de Frediric, lv. 285-260 ("29th August -- 10th September
-- 18th September,''1756), are collected now, the Eleven Letters, with their
Answers.
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? 254 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book xvn.
9th Sept. 1756.
Meagher, at Wilsdruf, can make of it; and this, in
conceivable circumstances, will grow less and less.
Next day, September 9th, Friedrich, with some
Battalions, entered Dresden, most of his Column taking
Camp near by; General Wylich had entered yesterday,
and is already Commandant there. Friedrich sends,
by Feldmarschall Keith, highest Officer of his Column,
his homages to her Polish Majesty: -- nothing given
us of Keith's Interview; except, by a side-wind, "That
"Majesty complained of those Prussian Sentries, walk-
"ing about in certain of her corridors" (with an eye to
Something, it may be feared! ) -- of which, doubtless,
Keith undertook to make report. Friedrich himself
waits upon the Junior Princes, who are left here: is
polite and gracious as ever, though strict, and with
business enough; lodges, for his own part, "in the
Garden-House of Princess Moczinska;" -- and next
morning, leads off his Column, a short march eastward,
to the Pirna Country; where, on the right and on the
left, Ferdinand at Cotta, Bevern at Lohmen, he finds
the other Two in their due positions. Head quarter
is Gross-Sedlitz (westernmost skirt of the Rock-region);
and will have to continue so, much longer than had
been expected.
The Diplomatic world in Dresden is in great emo-
tion; more especially, just at present This morning,
before leaving, Friedrich had to do an exceedingly
strict thing: secure the Originals of those Menzel Do-
cuments. Originals indispensable to him, for justifying
his new procedures upon Saxony. So that there has
been, at the Palace, a Scene this morning, of a very
high and dissonant nature, -- "Marshal Keith" in it,
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? CHAP. IV. ] friedrich's QUESTION AT VIENNA. 255
10th Sept. 1756.
"Marshal Keith making a second visit" (say some
loose and false Accounts); -- the facts being strictly
as follows.
Far from removing those Prussian sentries com-
plained of last night, here seems to be a double strength
of them this morning. And her Polish Majesty, a
severe, hard-featured old Lady, has been filled with indignant amazement by a Prussian Officer, -- Major
von Wangenheim, I believe it is, -- requiring, in the
King of Prussia's name, the Keys of that Archive-
room; Prussian Majesty absolutely needing sight, for a
little while, of certain Papers there. "Enter that room?
Archives of a crowned Head? Let me see the living
mortal that will dare to do it! " -- one fancies the in-
dignant Polish Majesty's answer; and how, calling for
materials, she "openly sealed the door in question," in
Wangenheim's presence. As this is a celebrated Pas-
sage, which has been reported in several loose ways,
let us take it from the primary source, Chancery-style
and all. Graf von Sternberg, Austrian Excellency,
writing from the spot and at the hour, informs his own
Court, and through that all Courts, in these solemnly
Official terms:
"Dresden, 10th September 1756. The Queen's Majesty,
"this forenoon, has called to her all the Foreign Ministers
"now at Dresden; and in Highest Own Person has signified
"to us, How, the Prussian intrusions and hostilities being
"already known, Highest said Queen's Majesty would now
"simply state what had farther taken place this morning:
"Highest said Queen's Majesty, to wit, had, in her own
"name, requested the King of Prussia, in conformity with his
"assurances" (by Keith, yesternight) "of paying every
"regard for Her and the Koyal Family, To remove the
"Prussian Sentries pacing about in those Corridors," -- Cor-
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