The
"big drab-coloured River spreads out into Islands, of a con-
"fused sort, as it passes; which are partly built upon, and con-
stitute suburbs of the Town, -- stretching over, here and
"there, into straggles of farther suburb beyond the River,
"where a road with its bridge happens to cross for the Eastern
"parts.
"big drab-coloured River spreads out into Islands, of a con-
"fused sort, as it passes; which are partly built upon, and con-
stitute suburbs of the Town, -- stretching over, here and
"there, into straggles of farther suburb beyond the River,
"where a road with its bridge happens to cross for the Eastern
"parts.
Thomas Carlyle
?
Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl.
handle.
net/2027/hvd.
hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www.
hathitrust.
org/access_use#pd-google
? 214 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bOOKm
22d-28th Dec. 1740.
'' the Philosopher Geometer" (big Maupertuis, in red wig and
yellow frizzles, vainest of human kind) "is squaring curves:
poor little Jordan" (with the kindly hazel eyes, and pen that
pleasantly gossips to us) "is doing nothing, or probably some-
"thing near it. Adieu once more, dear Voltaire; do no!
"forget the absent who love you. -- F? d? ric. " *
Schwerin at Liegnitz; Friedrich hushes up the Gloga".
Problem, and starts with his best speed for Breslau.
Meanwhile, on the Western road, and along tie
foot of the snowy peaks over yonder, Schwerin with
the small Right column is going prosperously forwards,
Two columns always, as the reader recollects, -- two
parallel military currents, flowing steadily on, shooting
out estafettes, or horse-parties, on the right and left;
steadily submerging all Silesia as they flow forward.
Left column or current is in slight pause at Glogau
here; but will directly be abreast again. On Tuesday
27th, Schwerin is within wind of Liegnitz; on Wed-
nesday morning, while the fires are hardly lighted, or
the smoke of Liegnitz risen among the Hills, Schwerin
has done his feat with the usual deftness: Prussian
grenadiers came softly on the sentry, softly as a dream;
but with sudden levelling of bayonets, sudden beckoning.
"To your Guardhouse! " -- and there, turn the key
upon his poor company and him. Whereupon tie
whole Prussian column marches in; tramp tramp,
without music, through the streets: in the Marketplace
they fold themselves into a ranked mass, and explode
into wind-harmony and rolling of drums. Liegnitz,
mostly in nightcap, looks cautiously out of window: it
is a deed done, ihr Herren; Liegnitz ours, better late
than never; and after so many years, the King has bis
* (Euvres de Fredirio, xxii. 57.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. III. ] PROBLEM OF GLOGAU. 215
22d-28th Dec. 1740.
own again. Schwerin is sumptuously lodged in the
Jesuits' Palace: Liegnitz, essentially a Protestant Town,
Las many thoughts upon this event, but as yet will be
stingy of speaking them.
Thus is Liegnitz managed. A pleasant Town, amid
pleasant hills on the rocky Katzbach; of which swift
stream, and other towns and passes on it, we shall yet
hear more. Population, silently industrious in weaving
and otherwise, is now above 14,000; was then perhaps
about half that number. Patiently inarticulate, by no
means bright in speech or sentiment; a much-enduring,
steady-going, frugal, pious and very desirable people.
The situation of Breslau, all this while, is very
critical. Much bottled emotion in the place; no Austrian
Garrison admissible; Authorities dare not again pro-
pose such a thing, though Browne is turning every
stone for it, -- lest the emotion burst bottle, and take
fire. I have dim account that Browne has been there,
has got 300 Austrian dragoons into the Dom Insel
(Cathedral Island; "Not in the City, you perceive! " says
General Browne: "no, separated by the Oder, on both
sides, from the rest of the City; that stately mass of
edifices, and good military post"); -- and had hoped
to get the suburbs burnt, after all. But the bottled
emotion was too dangerous. For, underground, there
are 4nft'-Brownes: one especially; a certain busy Deblin,
Shoemaker by craft, whom Friedrich speaks of, but
gives no name to; this zealous Cordwainer, Deblin,
and he is not the only individual of like humour,
operates on the guild-brothers and lower populations;*
things seem to be looking worse and worse for the
* Preus>>, Thronbesteir/ung, p. 469; CEuvres de Frederic, ii. 61.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 216
[eookxh.
FIRST SILESIAH WAR.
27th Dec. 1740.
Authorities, in spite of General Browne and his activi-
ties and dragoons.
What the issue will be? Judge if Friedrich wished
the Young Dessauer come! Friedrich's Hussar parties
(or Schwerin's, instructed by Friedrich) go to look if
the Breslau suburbs are burnt. Far from it, if Fried-
rich knew, -- the suburbs merely sit quaking at such
a proposal, and wish the Prussians were here. "But
there is time ahead of us," said everybody at Breslau;
"Glogau will take some sieging! " Browne, in the
course of a day or two, -- guessing, I almost think,
that Glogau was not to be besieged, -- ranked his 300
Austrian dragoons, and rode away; sending the Austrian
State-Papers, in half a score of wagons, ahead of him.
"Archives of Breslau! " cried the general population,
at sight of these wagons; and largely turned out, with
emotion again like to unbottle itself. "Mere Tax-
Ledgers, and records of the Government Offices; come
and convince yourselves! " answered the Authorities.
And the ten wagons went on; calling at Ohlau and
Brieg, for farther lading of the like kind. Which
wagons the Prussian light horse chased, but could not
catch. On to Mahren went these Archive-wagons; to
Brunn, far over the Giant Mountains; -- did not come
back for a long while, nor to their former Proprietor
at all!
Tuesday 27th, Leopold the Young Dessauer does
finally arrive, with his Reserve, at Glogau: never man
more welcome; such a fermentation going on at Breslau,
-- known to Friedrich, and what it will issue in, if he
delay, not known. With despatch, Leopold is put
into his charge; posts all yielded to him; orders given,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. III. ] PROBLEM OF GXOOtAU. 217
28th-31st Dec. 1740.
-- blockade to be strictness itself, but no fighting if
avoidable; "starvation will soon do it, two months at
most," hopes Friedrich, too sanguine as it proved: --
and with earliest daylight on the 28th, Friedrich's
Army, Friedrich himself in the van as usual, is on
march again; at its best speed for Breslau. Read this
Note for Jordan:
Friedrich to M. Jordan, at Berlin.
"Herrendorf, 21th Dec. 1740. Sieur Jordan, -- I march
"to-morrow for Breslau; and shall be there in four days," --
(three, it happened; there rising, as would seem, new reason
forhaste). "You Berliners" (of the 24th last) "have a spirit
"of prophecy, which goes beyond me. In fine, I go my road;
"and thou wilt shortly see Silesia ranked in the list of our
"Provinces. Adieu; this is all I have time to tell thee. Keli-
"gion" (Silesian Protestantism, and Breslau's Cordwainer),
"religion and our brave soldiers will do the rest.
"Tell Maupertuis I grant those Pensions he proposes for
"his Academicians; and that I hope to find good subjects for
"that dignity in the Country where I am, withal. Give him
"my compliments. -- Federic. "
The march was of the swiftest, -- swifter even than
had been expected; -- which, as Silesia is all ringing
glass, becomes more achievable than lately. But certain
regiments outdid themselves in marching; "in three
marches, near upon seventy miles," with their baggage
jingling in due proximity. Through Glasersdorf, thence
through Parchwitz, Neumarkt, Lissa, places that will
be better known to us; -- on Saturday, last night of
the Year, his Majesty lodged at a Schloss called Pils-
nitz, five miles to west of Breslau; and van-ward
regiments, a good few, quartered in the Western and
Southern suburbs of Breslau itself; suburbs decidedly
glad to see them, and escape conflagration. The Town-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 218 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bookxii.
28th-31st Dee. 1740.
gates are hermetically shut; -- plenty of emotion
bottled in the 100,000 hearts within. The sentries on
the walls presented arms; nay, it is affirmed, some
could not help exclaiming, "Willkommen, Ihr Lieben
Herrn (Welcome, dear Sirs)! "*
Colonel Posadowsky (active Horse Colonel whom
we have seen before, who perhaps has been in Breslau
before) left orders "at the Scultet Garden-House," that
all must be ready and the rooms heated, his Majesty
intending to arrive here, early on the morrow. Which
happened accordingly; Majesty alighting duly at said
Garden-House, near by the Schweidnitz Gate, -- I
fancy almost before break of day.
* Ilelden-Geschichle, i. 53i.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. IV. ] BRESLAU UNDER SOFT PRESSURE.
219
1st Jan. 1741.
CHAPTER IV.
BRESLAU UNDER SOFT PRESSURE.
The issue of this Breslau transaction is known, or
could be stated in few words; nor is the manner of it
such as would, for Breslau's sake, deserve many. But
we are looking into Friedrich, wish to know his man-
ners and aspects; and here, ready to our hand, a Paper
turns up, compiled by an exact person with better
leisure than ours, minutely detailing every part of the
affair. This Paper, after the question, Burn or insert?
is to have the lot of appearing here, with what abridg-
ments are possible:
"Sunday, 1st January 1741. The King having established
"himself in Herrn Scultet's Garden-House, not far from the
"Schweidnitz Gate, there began a delicate and great opera-
"tion. The Prussians, in a soft cautious manner, in the gray
"of the morning, push out their sentries towards the Three
"Gates on this side of the Oder; seize any 'Excise House,' or
"the like, that may be fit for a post; and softly put 'twenty
"grenadiers' in it. All this before sunrise. Breslau is rigidly
"shut; Breslau thought always it could stand upon its guard,
"if attacked;--is now, in Official quarters, dismally uncertain
"if it can; general population becoming certain that it cannot,
"and waiting anxious on the development of this grand
"drama.
"About 7 a. m. a Prussian subaltern advancing within cry
"of the Schweidnitz Gate, requests of the Town-guard there,
"To send him out a Town-Officer. Town-Officer appears; is
"informed, 'That Colonels Posadowsky and Borck, Com-
"missioners or plenipotentiary Messengers from his Prussian
"Majesty* desire admittance to the Chief Magistrate of Bres-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 220
[book xn.
FIRST SILESIAN WAR.
2d Jan. 1741.
"lau, for the purpose of signifying what his Prussian Majesty's
"instructions are. ' Town Officer bows, and goes upon his
"errand. Town-Officer is some considerable time before he
"can return; City Authorities being, as we know, various,
"partly Imperial, partly Civic; elderly; and some of them
"gone to church, -- for matins, or to be out of the way.
"However, he does at last return; admits the two Colonels,
"and escorts them honourably, to the Chief Raths-Syndic
". (Lord-Mayor) old Herr von Gutzmar's; where the poor old
"'President of the Ober-Amt' (Von Schaffgotsch the name of
"this latter) is likewise in attendance.
"Prussian Majesty's proposals are of the mildest sort:
"'Nothing demanded of Breslau but the plainly indispensable
"and indisputable, That Prussia be in it what Austria has
"been. In all else, status quo. Strict neutrality to Breslau,
"respect for its privileges as a Free City of the Reich; pro-
"tection to all its rights and privileges whatsoever. Shall be
"guarded by its own Garrison; no Prussian soldier to enter
"except with side-arms; only 30 guards for the King's person,
"who will visit the City for a few days; -- intends to form a
"Magazine, with guard of 1,000 men, but only outside the
"City: no requisitions; ready money for everything. Chief
"Syndic Gutzmar and President Schaffgotsch shall consider
"these points. '* Syndic and President answef, Surely!
"Cannot, however, decide till they have assembled the Town-
"Rath; the two Herren Colonels will please to be guests of
"Breslau, and lodge in the City till then.
"And they lodged, accordingly, in the 'Grosse Ring'
"(called also Salz-Ring, big Central Square, where theRath-
"haus is); and they made and received visits, -- visited
"especially the Chief President's Office, the Ober-Amt, and
"signified there, that his Prussian Majesty's expectation was,
"They would give some account of that rather high Procla-
"mation or' Patent' they had published against him the other
"day, amid thunder and lightning here, and what they now
"thought would be expedient upon it? All in grave official
"terms, but of such a purport as was not exhilarating to every-
"body in those Ober-Amt localities.
"Monday morning, 2d January. The Rath is assembled;
"and consults, -- consults at great length. . Raft-House and
* llelden-Geschichte, i. 537.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. IV. ] BRESLAU UNDER SOFT PRESSURE.
221
2d Jan. 174L
Syndic Gutzmar,' in such crisis, would fain have advice
"from Ami-House or President Schaffgotsch; but can get
"none: considerable coming and going between them: at
"length, about3 in the afternoon, the Treaty is got drawn
"up; is signed by the due Breslau hands, and by the two
"Prussian Colonels, -- which latter ride out with it, about 4 of
"the clock; victorious after thirty hours. Straight towards
"the Scultet Garden ride they; Town-guard presenting Arms,
"at the Schweidnitz Gate; nay Town-band breaking out into
"music, which is never done but to Ambassadors and high
"people. By thirty hours of steady soft pressure, they have
"Friedrich had waited patiently all Sunday, keeping
"steady guard at the Gates; but on Monday, naturally, the
"thirty hours began to hang heavy: at all events, he perceived
"that it would be well to facilitate conclusions a little from
"without. Breslau stands on the West, more strictly speaking,
"on the South side of the Oder, which makes an elbow here,
"and thus bounds it, or mostly bounds it, on two sides.
The
"big drab-coloured River spreads out into Islands, of a con-
"fused sort, as it passes; which are partly built upon, and con-
stitute suburbs of the Town, -- stretching over, here and
"there, into straggles of farther suburb beyond the River,
"where a road with its bridge happens to cross for the Eastern
"parts. The principal of these Islands is the Dom Insel,"
-- known to General Browne and us, -- "on which is the Ca-
thedral, and the Close with rich Canons and their edifices;
"Island filled with strong high architecture; and a superior
"military post.
"Friedrich has already as good as possessed himself of the
"Three landward Gates, which look to the south and to the
"west; the riverward Gates, or those on the north and the
"east, he perceives that it were good now also to have; these,
"and even perhaps something more? 'Gather all the river-
"boats, make a bridge of them across the Oder; push across
"the Oder; push across 400 men:' this is done on Monday
"morning, under the King's own eye. This done, 'March up
"to that riverward Gate, and also to that other, in a mild but
"dangerous-looking manner; hew the beams of said Gate in
"two; start the big locks; fling wide open said Gate and
"Gates:' this too is done; Town-guard looking mournfully
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 222 FIRST SILESIASt WAR. [BOOKXn.
2d Jan. 1741.
"on. This done, 'March forward swiftly, in two halves,
"without beat of drum, -- whitherward you know! '
"Those three hundred Austrian Dragoons, we saw them
"leave the Dom Island, three days ago; there are at present
"only Six Men, of the Bishop's Guard, walking under arms
"there, -- at the end of the chief bridge, on the Townward
"side of their Dom Island. See, Prussian caps and muskets,
"ye six men under arms! The six men clutch at their draw-
"bridge, and hastily set about hoisting: -- alas, another
"Prussian corps, which has come privately by the eastern (or
"Country-ward) Bridge, King himself with it, taps them on
"the shoulder at this instant; mildly constrains the six into
"their guardhouse: the drawbridge falls; 400 Prussian
"grenadiers take quiet possession of the Dom Island: King
"may return to the Scultet Garden, having quickened the
"lazy hours in this manner. To such of the Canons as he came
"upon, his Majesty was most polite; they most submiss. The
"six soldiers of the drawbridge, having spoken a little loud,--
"still more a too zealous beef-eater of old Schaffgotsch's
"found here, who had been very loud,-- were put under
"arrest; but more for form's sake; and were let go, in a day or
"two. "
Nothing could be gentler on Friedrich's part, and
on that of his Two Colonels, than this delicate opera-
tion throughout: -- and at 4 p. m. , after thirty hours of
waiting, it is done, and nobody's skin scratched. Old
Syndic Gutzmar, and the Town-Rath, urged by perils
and a Town Population who are Protestant, have
signed the Surrender with goodwill, at least with
resignation, and a feeling of relief. The Ober-Amt
Officials have likewise had to sign; full of all the
silent spleen and despondency which is natural to the
situation: spleen which, in the case of old Schaffgotsch,
weak with age, becomes passionately audible here and
there. He will have to give account of that injurious
Proclamation, or Queen's "Patent," to this King that
has now come.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. IV. ] , BRESLAU UNDER SOFT PRESSURE. 223
2d Jan. 1741.
King enters Breslau; stays there, gracious and vigilant,
Four Days (Jan. 2d-6th, 1741).
In the Royal Entrance which took place next day,
note these points. Syndic Gutzmar and the Authorities
came out, in grand coaches, at 8 in the morning; had
to wait a while; the King, having ridden away to look
after his manifold affairs, did not get back till 10.
Town Guard and Garrison are all drawn out; Gates
all flung open, Prussian sentries withdrawn from them,
and from the Excise-houses they had seized: King's
Kitchen-and-Proviant Carriages (four mules to each,
with bells, with uncommonly rich housings): King's
Body-Coach very grand indeed, and grandly escorted,
the Thirty Bodyguards riding ahead; but nothing in
it, only a most superfine cloak "lined wholly with
ermine" flung upon the seat. Other Coaches, more or
less grandly escorted; Head Cupbearers, Seneschals,
Princes, Margraves: -- but where is the King? King
had ridden away, a second time, with chief Generals,
taking survey of the Town Walls, round as far as the
Ziegel- Thor (Tile-Gate, extreme south-east, by the river-
edge): he has thus made the whole circuit of Breslau;
-- unwearied in picking up useful knowledge, "though
it was very cold," while that Procession of Coaches
went on.
At noon, his Majesty, thrifty of time, did enter: on
horseback, Schwerin riding with him; behind him mis-
cellaneous chief Officers; Borck and Posadowsky among
others; some miscellany of Page-people following. With
this natural escort, he rode in; Town-Major (comman-
dant of Town-guard), with drawn sword, going ahead;
-- King wore his usual Cocked Hat, and practical
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 224
FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bookXe
2d-6th Jan. 1741.
Blue Cloak, both a little dimmed by service: but his
gray horse was admirable; and Four scarlet Footmen,
grand as galoon and silver fringe could make them,
did the due magnificence in dress. He was very gra-
cious; saluting to this side and to that, where he noticed
people of condition in the windows. "Along Schweid-
nitz Street, across the Great Ring, down Albreclit
Street. " He alighted, to lodge, at the Count-Schlegen-
berg House; which used to be the Austrian Cardinal
von Sinzendorf, Primate of Silesia's hired lodging, --
Sinzendorfs furniture is put gently. aside, on this new
occasion. King came on the balcony; and stood there
for some minutes, that everybody might see him. The
"immense shoutings," Dryasdust assures me, have been
exaggerated; and I am warned not to believe the
Kriegs-Fama such and such a Number, except after
comparing it with him. -- That day there was dinner
of more than thirty covers, Chief Syndic Gutzmar
and other such guests; but as to the viands, says my
friend, these, owing to the haste, were nothing to
speak of. *
Dinner, better and better ordered, King more and
more gracious, so it continued all the four days of his
Majesty's stay: -- on the second day he had to rise
suddenly from table, and leave his guests with an
apology; something having gone awry, at one of the
Gates. Awry there, between the Town Authorities and
a General Jeetz of his, -- who is on march across the
River at this moment (on what errand we shall hear),
and a little mistakes the terms. His Majesty puts
Jeetz right; and even waits, till he see his Brigade
and him clear across. A junior Schaffgotsch, ** not the
* Helden-Geschichle, i. 545-548. ** lb. ii. 159.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. IV. ] BRESLAU UNDER SOFT PRESSURE. 225
2d-6th Jan. 1741.
inconsolable Schaffgotsch senior, but his Nephew, was
one of the guests this second day; an ecclesiastic, but
of witty fashionable type, and I think a very worthless
fellow, though of a family important in the Province.
Dinner falls about noon; does not last above two hours
or three, so that there is space for a ride ("to the
Dom," the first afternoon, "four runners" always), and
for much in-door work, before the supper-hour.
As the Austrian Authorities sat silent in their place,
and gave no explanation of that "Patent," affixed
amid thunder and lightning, -- they got orders from
his Majesty to go their ways next day; and went. In
behalf of old President von Schaffgotsch, a chief of the
Silesian Nobility, and man much loved, the Breslau
people, and men from every guild and rank of society,
made petition. That he should be allowed to continue
in his Town House here. Which "first request of
yours" his Majesty, with much grace, is sorry to be
obliged to refuse. The suppressed, and insuppressible,
weak indignation of old Schaffgotsch is visible on the
occasion; nor, I think, does Friedrich take it ill; only
sends him out of the way with it, for the time. The
Austrian Ober-Amt vanished bodily from Breslau in
this manner; and never returned. Proper "War-Com-
mission [Feld-Kriegs-Commissariai)" with Munchow, one
of those skilful Cilstrin Miinchows, at the top of it,
organised itself instead; which, almost of necessity,
became Supreme Government in a City ungoverned
otherwise: -- and truly there was little regret of the
Ober-Amt, in Breslau; and ever less, to a marked ex-
tent, as the years went on.
On the 5th of January (fourth and last night here),
his Majesty gave a grand Ball. Had hired, or Colonel
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VI. 15
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 226
FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [book mi.
2d-6th Jan. 1741.
Posadowsky instead of him had hired, the Assembly
Rooms (Redouten Saat) for the purpose: "Invite all the
the Nobility high and low;" -- expense by estimate is
a ducat (half-guinea) each; do it well, and his Majesty
will pay. About 6 in the evening, his Majesty in per-
son did us the honour to drive over; opened the Ball
with Madam the Countess von Schlegenberg (I should
guess, a Dowager Lady), in whose house he lodges. I
am not aware that his Majesty danced much farther;
but he was very condescending, and spoke and smiled
up and down; -- till, about 10 p. m. , an Officer came
in with a Letter. Which Letter his Majesty having
read, and seemingly asked a question or two in regard
to, put silently in his pocket, as if it were a finished
thing. Nevertheless, after a few minutes, his Majesty
was found to have silently withdrawn; and did not
return, not even to supper. Perceiving which, all the
Prussian official people gradually withdrew; though
the dancing and supping continued not the less, to a
late hour. *
"Open the Austrian Mail-bag (Felleisen)' see a little
what they are saying over there! " Such order had
evidently been given, this night. In consequence of
which people wrote by Dresden, and not the direct
way, in future; wishing to avoid that openable Fell-
eisen. Next morning, January 6th, his Majesty had
left for Ohlau, -- early I suppose; though there
proved to be nothing dangerous ahead there, after all
* Helden-Geschichte, i. 557.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP, v. ] FORWARD ON BRIEG AND NEISSE.
227
7th-12th Jan. 1741.
CHAPTER V.
FE1EDRICH PUSHES FORWARD TOWARDS BRIEG AND NEISSE.
Ohlau is a pleasant little Town, two marches
south-east of Breslau; with the Ohlau River on one
side, and the Oder on the other; capable of some de-
fence, were there a garrison. Brieg the important
Fortress, still on the Oder, is some fifteen miles beyond
Ohlau; after which, bending straight south and quitting
Oder, Neisse the still more important may be thirty
miles: -- from Breslau to Neisse, by this route (which
is low, not string), sixty-five or seventy miles. One
of my Topographers yields this Note, if readers care
for it:
"Ohlau River, an insignificant drab-coloured stream, rises
"well south of Breslau, about Strehlen; makes, at first, direct
"westward towards the Oder; and then, when almost close
"upon it, breaks off to north, and saunters along, irregularly
"parallel to Oder, for twenty miles farther, before it can fall
"fairly in. To this circumstance both Breslau and a Town of
"Ohlau owe their existence; Towns, both of them, 'between
"the waters,' and otherwise well seated; Ohlau sheltering
"itself in the attempted outfall of its little river; Breslau
"clustering itself about the actual outfall: both very defensible
"places in the old rude time, and good for trade in all times.
"Both Oder and Ohlau Rivers have spilt and spread them
"selves into islands and deltas, a good deal, at their place of
"meeting; and even have changed their courses, and cut out
"new channels for themselves, in the sandy country; making
"a very intricate watery network of a site for Breslau: and
"indeed the Ohlau River here, for centuries back, has been
"compelled into wide meanderings, mere filling of rampart-
15*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 228 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bOOKXH.
7th-12th Jan. 1741.
"ditches, so that it issues quite obscurely, and in an artificial
"engineered condition, at Breslau. "
Ohlau had been expected to make some defence;
General Browne having thrown 300 men into it, and
done what he could for the works. And Ohlau did at
first threaten to make some; but thought better of it
over night, and in effect made none; but was got
(morning of January 9th) on the common terms, by
merely marching up to it in minatory posture. "Pri-
soners of War, if you make resistance; Free With-
drawal" (Liberty to march away, arms shouldered,
and not serve against us for a year), "if you have
made none;" this is the common course, where there
are Austrian Soldiers at all; the course where none are,
and only a few Syndics sit, with their Town-Key laid
on the table, a prey to the stronger hand, we have
already seen.
From Ohlau, proper Detachment, under General
Kleist is pushed forward to summon Brieg; Jeetz from
the other side of the river (whom we saw crossing at
Breslau the other day, interrupting his Majesty's din-
ner) is to cooperate with Kleist in that enterprise, --
were the Country once cleared on his, Jeetz's, east side
of Oder; especially were Namslau once had, a small
Town and Castle over there, which commands the
Polish and Hungarian road. Friedrich's hopes are
buoyant; Schwerin is swiftly trolling forward to right-
ward, nothing resisting him; Detachment is gone from
Schwerin, over the Hills, to Glatz (the Grafschafi, or
County Glatz, an Appendage to Schlesien), under ex-
cellent guidance; under guidance, namely, of Colonel
Camas, who has just come home from his Parisian
Embassy, and got launched among the wintry Moon-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP, v. ] FORWARD ON BRIEG AND NEISSE. 229
7th-12th Jan. 1741.
tains, on a new operation, -- which, however, proves
of non-effect for the present. *
Indeed, it is observable that southward of Breslau
the dispute, what dispute there can be, properly be-
gins; and that General Browne is there, and shows
himself a shining man in this difficult position. It
must be owned, no General could have made his small
means go farther. Effective garrisons, 1,600 each, put
into Brieg and Neisse; works repaired, magazines col-
lected, there and elsewhere; the rest of his poor 7,000
thriftily sprinkled about, in what good posts there are,
and "capable of being got together in six hours;" a
superior soldier, this Browne, though with a very bad
task; and seems to have inspired everybody with some-
thing of his own temper. So that there is marching,
detaching, miscellaneous difficulty for Friedrich in this
quarter, more than had been expected. If the fate of
Brieg and Neisse be inevitable, Browne does wonders
to delay it.
Of the Prussian marches in these parts, recorded
by intricate Dryasdust, there was no point so notable
to me as this unrecorded one: the Stone Pillar which,
I see, the Kleist Detachment was sure to find, just now,
on the march from Ohlau to Brieg; last portion of that
march, between the village of Briesen and Brieg. The
Oder, flowing on your left hand, is hereabouts agree-
ably clothed with woods: the country, originally a
swamp, has been drained, and given to the plough, in
an agreeable manner; and* there is an excellent road
paved with solid whinstone, -- quarried in Strehlen,
* Helden-Geschichle, i. 678; Orlich, Geschichte der bciden Schlesischen
Kriege, 1. 49.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 230
FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [boOKTIT.
7th-12th Jan. 1741.
twenty miles away, among the Hills to the right
yonder, as you may guess, -- road very visible to the
Prussian soldier, though he does not ask where quar-
ried. These beautiful improvements, beautiful hu-
manities, -- were done by whom? "Done in 1584,"
say the records, by "George the Pious;" Duke of
Liegnitz, Brieg, and Wohlau; 156 years ago. "Pious"
his contemporaries called this George; -- he was son
of the Erbverhritderung Duke, who is so important to
us; he was grandfather's grandfather of the last Duke
of all; after whom it was we that should have got
these fine Territories; they should all have fallen to
the Great Elector, had not the Austrian strong hand
provided otherwise. George did these plantations,
recoveries to the plough; made this perennial whin-
stone road across the swamps; upon which, inotable to
the roughest Prussian (being "twelve feet high by
eight feet square"), rises a Hewn Mass with this In-
scription on it, -- not of the name or date of George;
but of a thought of his, which is not without a pious
beauty to me:
Slraverunt alii nobis, nos Postcritati;
Omnibus at Chrisms struvit ad astra viam.
? 214 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bOOKm
22d-28th Dec. 1740.
'' the Philosopher Geometer" (big Maupertuis, in red wig and
yellow frizzles, vainest of human kind) "is squaring curves:
poor little Jordan" (with the kindly hazel eyes, and pen that
pleasantly gossips to us) "is doing nothing, or probably some-
"thing near it. Adieu once more, dear Voltaire; do no!
"forget the absent who love you. -- F? d? ric. " *
Schwerin at Liegnitz; Friedrich hushes up the Gloga".
Problem, and starts with his best speed for Breslau.
Meanwhile, on the Western road, and along tie
foot of the snowy peaks over yonder, Schwerin with
the small Right column is going prosperously forwards,
Two columns always, as the reader recollects, -- two
parallel military currents, flowing steadily on, shooting
out estafettes, or horse-parties, on the right and left;
steadily submerging all Silesia as they flow forward.
Left column or current is in slight pause at Glogau
here; but will directly be abreast again. On Tuesday
27th, Schwerin is within wind of Liegnitz; on Wed-
nesday morning, while the fires are hardly lighted, or
the smoke of Liegnitz risen among the Hills, Schwerin
has done his feat with the usual deftness: Prussian
grenadiers came softly on the sentry, softly as a dream;
but with sudden levelling of bayonets, sudden beckoning.
"To your Guardhouse! " -- and there, turn the key
upon his poor company and him. Whereupon tie
whole Prussian column marches in; tramp tramp,
without music, through the streets: in the Marketplace
they fold themselves into a ranked mass, and explode
into wind-harmony and rolling of drums. Liegnitz,
mostly in nightcap, looks cautiously out of window: it
is a deed done, ihr Herren; Liegnitz ours, better late
than never; and after so many years, the King has bis
* (Euvres de Fredirio, xxii. 57.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. III. ] PROBLEM OF GLOGAU. 215
22d-28th Dec. 1740.
own again. Schwerin is sumptuously lodged in the
Jesuits' Palace: Liegnitz, essentially a Protestant Town,
Las many thoughts upon this event, but as yet will be
stingy of speaking them.
Thus is Liegnitz managed. A pleasant Town, amid
pleasant hills on the rocky Katzbach; of which swift
stream, and other towns and passes on it, we shall yet
hear more. Population, silently industrious in weaving
and otherwise, is now above 14,000; was then perhaps
about half that number. Patiently inarticulate, by no
means bright in speech or sentiment; a much-enduring,
steady-going, frugal, pious and very desirable people.
The situation of Breslau, all this while, is very
critical. Much bottled emotion in the place; no Austrian
Garrison admissible; Authorities dare not again pro-
pose such a thing, though Browne is turning every
stone for it, -- lest the emotion burst bottle, and take
fire. I have dim account that Browne has been there,
has got 300 Austrian dragoons into the Dom Insel
(Cathedral Island; "Not in the City, you perceive! " says
General Browne: "no, separated by the Oder, on both
sides, from the rest of the City; that stately mass of
edifices, and good military post"); -- and had hoped
to get the suburbs burnt, after all. But the bottled
emotion was too dangerous. For, underground, there
are 4nft'-Brownes: one especially; a certain busy Deblin,
Shoemaker by craft, whom Friedrich speaks of, but
gives no name to; this zealous Cordwainer, Deblin,
and he is not the only individual of like humour,
operates on the guild-brothers and lower populations;*
things seem to be looking worse and worse for the
* Preus>>, Thronbesteir/ung, p. 469; CEuvres de Frederic, ii. 61.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 216
[eookxh.
FIRST SILESIAH WAR.
27th Dec. 1740.
Authorities, in spite of General Browne and his activi-
ties and dragoons.
What the issue will be? Judge if Friedrich wished
the Young Dessauer come! Friedrich's Hussar parties
(or Schwerin's, instructed by Friedrich) go to look if
the Breslau suburbs are burnt. Far from it, if Fried-
rich knew, -- the suburbs merely sit quaking at such
a proposal, and wish the Prussians were here. "But
there is time ahead of us," said everybody at Breslau;
"Glogau will take some sieging! " Browne, in the
course of a day or two, -- guessing, I almost think,
that Glogau was not to be besieged, -- ranked his 300
Austrian dragoons, and rode away; sending the Austrian
State-Papers, in half a score of wagons, ahead of him.
"Archives of Breslau! " cried the general population,
at sight of these wagons; and largely turned out, with
emotion again like to unbottle itself. "Mere Tax-
Ledgers, and records of the Government Offices; come
and convince yourselves! " answered the Authorities.
And the ten wagons went on; calling at Ohlau and
Brieg, for farther lading of the like kind. Which
wagons the Prussian light horse chased, but could not
catch. On to Mahren went these Archive-wagons; to
Brunn, far over the Giant Mountains; -- did not come
back for a long while, nor to their former Proprietor
at all!
Tuesday 27th, Leopold the Young Dessauer does
finally arrive, with his Reserve, at Glogau: never man
more welcome; such a fermentation going on at Breslau,
-- known to Friedrich, and what it will issue in, if he
delay, not known. With despatch, Leopold is put
into his charge; posts all yielded to him; orders given,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. III. ] PROBLEM OF GXOOtAU. 217
28th-31st Dec. 1740.
-- blockade to be strictness itself, but no fighting if
avoidable; "starvation will soon do it, two months at
most," hopes Friedrich, too sanguine as it proved: --
and with earliest daylight on the 28th, Friedrich's
Army, Friedrich himself in the van as usual, is on
march again; at its best speed for Breslau. Read this
Note for Jordan:
Friedrich to M. Jordan, at Berlin.
"Herrendorf, 21th Dec. 1740. Sieur Jordan, -- I march
"to-morrow for Breslau; and shall be there in four days," --
(three, it happened; there rising, as would seem, new reason
forhaste). "You Berliners" (of the 24th last) "have a spirit
"of prophecy, which goes beyond me. In fine, I go my road;
"and thou wilt shortly see Silesia ranked in the list of our
"Provinces. Adieu; this is all I have time to tell thee. Keli-
"gion" (Silesian Protestantism, and Breslau's Cordwainer),
"religion and our brave soldiers will do the rest.
"Tell Maupertuis I grant those Pensions he proposes for
"his Academicians; and that I hope to find good subjects for
"that dignity in the Country where I am, withal. Give him
"my compliments. -- Federic. "
The march was of the swiftest, -- swifter even than
had been expected; -- which, as Silesia is all ringing
glass, becomes more achievable than lately. But certain
regiments outdid themselves in marching; "in three
marches, near upon seventy miles," with their baggage
jingling in due proximity. Through Glasersdorf, thence
through Parchwitz, Neumarkt, Lissa, places that will
be better known to us; -- on Saturday, last night of
the Year, his Majesty lodged at a Schloss called Pils-
nitz, five miles to west of Breslau; and van-ward
regiments, a good few, quartered in the Western and
Southern suburbs of Breslau itself; suburbs decidedly
glad to see them, and escape conflagration. The Town-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 218 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bookxii.
28th-31st Dee. 1740.
gates are hermetically shut; -- plenty of emotion
bottled in the 100,000 hearts within. The sentries on
the walls presented arms; nay, it is affirmed, some
could not help exclaiming, "Willkommen, Ihr Lieben
Herrn (Welcome, dear Sirs)! "*
Colonel Posadowsky (active Horse Colonel whom
we have seen before, who perhaps has been in Breslau
before) left orders "at the Scultet Garden-House," that
all must be ready and the rooms heated, his Majesty
intending to arrive here, early on the morrow. Which
happened accordingly; Majesty alighting duly at said
Garden-House, near by the Schweidnitz Gate, -- I
fancy almost before break of day.
* Ilelden-Geschichle, i. 53i.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. IV. ] BRESLAU UNDER SOFT PRESSURE.
219
1st Jan. 1741.
CHAPTER IV.
BRESLAU UNDER SOFT PRESSURE.
The issue of this Breslau transaction is known, or
could be stated in few words; nor is the manner of it
such as would, for Breslau's sake, deserve many. But
we are looking into Friedrich, wish to know his man-
ners and aspects; and here, ready to our hand, a Paper
turns up, compiled by an exact person with better
leisure than ours, minutely detailing every part of the
affair. This Paper, after the question, Burn or insert?
is to have the lot of appearing here, with what abridg-
ments are possible:
"Sunday, 1st January 1741. The King having established
"himself in Herrn Scultet's Garden-House, not far from the
"Schweidnitz Gate, there began a delicate and great opera-
"tion. The Prussians, in a soft cautious manner, in the gray
"of the morning, push out their sentries towards the Three
"Gates on this side of the Oder; seize any 'Excise House,' or
"the like, that may be fit for a post; and softly put 'twenty
"grenadiers' in it. All this before sunrise. Breslau is rigidly
"shut; Breslau thought always it could stand upon its guard,
"if attacked;--is now, in Official quarters, dismally uncertain
"if it can; general population becoming certain that it cannot,
"and waiting anxious on the development of this grand
"drama.
"About 7 a. m. a Prussian subaltern advancing within cry
"of the Schweidnitz Gate, requests of the Town-guard there,
"To send him out a Town-Officer. Town-Officer appears; is
"informed, 'That Colonels Posadowsky and Borck, Com-
"missioners or plenipotentiary Messengers from his Prussian
"Majesty* desire admittance to the Chief Magistrate of Bres-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 220
[book xn.
FIRST SILESIAN WAR.
2d Jan. 1741.
"lau, for the purpose of signifying what his Prussian Majesty's
"instructions are. ' Town Officer bows, and goes upon his
"errand. Town-Officer is some considerable time before he
"can return; City Authorities being, as we know, various,
"partly Imperial, partly Civic; elderly; and some of them
"gone to church, -- for matins, or to be out of the way.
"However, he does at last return; admits the two Colonels,
"and escorts them honourably, to the Chief Raths-Syndic
". (Lord-Mayor) old Herr von Gutzmar's; where the poor old
"'President of the Ober-Amt' (Von Schaffgotsch the name of
"this latter) is likewise in attendance.
"Prussian Majesty's proposals are of the mildest sort:
"'Nothing demanded of Breslau but the plainly indispensable
"and indisputable, That Prussia be in it what Austria has
"been. In all else, status quo. Strict neutrality to Breslau,
"respect for its privileges as a Free City of the Reich; pro-
"tection to all its rights and privileges whatsoever. Shall be
"guarded by its own Garrison; no Prussian soldier to enter
"except with side-arms; only 30 guards for the King's person,
"who will visit the City for a few days; -- intends to form a
"Magazine, with guard of 1,000 men, but only outside the
"City: no requisitions; ready money for everything. Chief
"Syndic Gutzmar and President Schaffgotsch shall consider
"these points. '* Syndic and President answef, Surely!
"Cannot, however, decide till they have assembled the Town-
"Rath; the two Herren Colonels will please to be guests of
"Breslau, and lodge in the City till then.
"And they lodged, accordingly, in the 'Grosse Ring'
"(called also Salz-Ring, big Central Square, where theRath-
"haus is); and they made and received visits, -- visited
"especially the Chief President's Office, the Ober-Amt, and
"signified there, that his Prussian Majesty's expectation was,
"They would give some account of that rather high Procla-
"mation or' Patent' they had published against him the other
"day, amid thunder and lightning here, and what they now
"thought would be expedient upon it? All in grave official
"terms, but of such a purport as was not exhilarating to every-
"body in those Ober-Amt localities.
"Monday morning, 2d January. The Rath is assembled;
"and consults, -- consults at great length. . Raft-House and
* llelden-Geschichte, i. 537.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. IV. ] BRESLAU UNDER SOFT PRESSURE.
221
2d Jan. 174L
Syndic Gutzmar,' in such crisis, would fain have advice
"from Ami-House or President Schaffgotsch; but can get
"none: considerable coming and going between them: at
"length, about3 in the afternoon, the Treaty is got drawn
"up; is signed by the due Breslau hands, and by the two
"Prussian Colonels, -- which latter ride out with it, about 4 of
"the clock; victorious after thirty hours. Straight towards
"the Scultet Garden ride they; Town-guard presenting Arms,
"at the Schweidnitz Gate; nay Town-band breaking out into
"music, which is never done but to Ambassadors and high
"people. By thirty hours of steady soft pressure, they have
"Friedrich had waited patiently all Sunday, keeping
"steady guard at the Gates; but on Monday, naturally, the
"thirty hours began to hang heavy: at all events, he perceived
"that it would be well to facilitate conclusions a little from
"without. Breslau stands on the West, more strictly speaking,
"on the South side of the Oder, which makes an elbow here,
"and thus bounds it, or mostly bounds it, on two sides.
The
"big drab-coloured River spreads out into Islands, of a con-
"fused sort, as it passes; which are partly built upon, and con-
stitute suburbs of the Town, -- stretching over, here and
"there, into straggles of farther suburb beyond the River,
"where a road with its bridge happens to cross for the Eastern
"parts. The principal of these Islands is the Dom Insel,"
-- known to General Browne and us, -- "on which is the Ca-
thedral, and the Close with rich Canons and their edifices;
"Island filled with strong high architecture; and a superior
"military post.
"Friedrich has already as good as possessed himself of the
"Three landward Gates, which look to the south and to the
"west; the riverward Gates, or those on the north and the
"east, he perceives that it were good now also to have; these,
"and even perhaps something more? 'Gather all the river-
"boats, make a bridge of them across the Oder; push across
"the Oder; push across 400 men:' this is done on Monday
"morning, under the King's own eye. This done, 'March up
"to that riverward Gate, and also to that other, in a mild but
"dangerous-looking manner; hew the beams of said Gate in
"two; start the big locks; fling wide open said Gate and
"Gates:' this too is done; Town-guard looking mournfully
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 222 FIRST SILESIASt WAR. [BOOKXn.
2d Jan. 1741.
"on. This done, 'March forward swiftly, in two halves,
"without beat of drum, -- whitherward you know! '
"Those three hundred Austrian Dragoons, we saw them
"leave the Dom Island, three days ago; there are at present
"only Six Men, of the Bishop's Guard, walking under arms
"there, -- at the end of the chief bridge, on the Townward
"side of their Dom Island. See, Prussian caps and muskets,
"ye six men under arms! The six men clutch at their draw-
"bridge, and hastily set about hoisting: -- alas, another
"Prussian corps, which has come privately by the eastern (or
"Country-ward) Bridge, King himself with it, taps them on
"the shoulder at this instant; mildly constrains the six into
"their guardhouse: the drawbridge falls; 400 Prussian
"grenadiers take quiet possession of the Dom Island: King
"may return to the Scultet Garden, having quickened the
"lazy hours in this manner. To such of the Canons as he came
"upon, his Majesty was most polite; they most submiss. The
"six soldiers of the drawbridge, having spoken a little loud,--
"still more a too zealous beef-eater of old Schaffgotsch's
"found here, who had been very loud,-- were put under
"arrest; but more for form's sake; and were let go, in a day or
"two. "
Nothing could be gentler on Friedrich's part, and
on that of his Two Colonels, than this delicate opera-
tion throughout: -- and at 4 p. m. , after thirty hours of
waiting, it is done, and nobody's skin scratched. Old
Syndic Gutzmar, and the Town-Rath, urged by perils
and a Town Population who are Protestant, have
signed the Surrender with goodwill, at least with
resignation, and a feeling of relief. The Ober-Amt
Officials have likewise had to sign; full of all the
silent spleen and despondency which is natural to the
situation: spleen which, in the case of old Schaffgotsch,
weak with age, becomes passionately audible here and
there. He will have to give account of that injurious
Proclamation, or Queen's "Patent," to this King that
has now come.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. IV. ] , BRESLAU UNDER SOFT PRESSURE. 223
2d Jan. 1741.
King enters Breslau; stays there, gracious and vigilant,
Four Days (Jan. 2d-6th, 1741).
In the Royal Entrance which took place next day,
note these points. Syndic Gutzmar and the Authorities
came out, in grand coaches, at 8 in the morning; had
to wait a while; the King, having ridden away to look
after his manifold affairs, did not get back till 10.
Town Guard and Garrison are all drawn out; Gates
all flung open, Prussian sentries withdrawn from them,
and from the Excise-houses they had seized: King's
Kitchen-and-Proviant Carriages (four mules to each,
with bells, with uncommonly rich housings): King's
Body-Coach very grand indeed, and grandly escorted,
the Thirty Bodyguards riding ahead; but nothing in
it, only a most superfine cloak "lined wholly with
ermine" flung upon the seat. Other Coaches, more or
less grandly escorted; Head Cupbearers, Seneschals,
Princes, Margraves: -- but where is the King? King
had ridden away, a second time, with chief Generals,
taking survey of the Town Walls, round as far as the
Ziegel- Thor (Tile-Gate, extreme south-east, by the river-
edge): he has thus made the whole circuit of Breslau;
-- unwearied in picking up useful knowledge, "though
it was very cold," while that Procession of Coaches
went on.
At noon, his Majesty, thrifty of time, did enter: on
horseback, Schwerin riding with him; behind him mis-
cellaneous chief Officers; Borck and Posadowsky among
others; some miscellany of Page-people following. With
this natural escort, he rode in; Town-Major (comman-
dant of Town-guard), with drawn sword, going ahead;
-- King wore his usual Cocked Hat, and practical
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 224
FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bookXe
2d-6th Jan. 1741.
Blue Cloak, both a little dimmed by service: but his
gray horse was admirable; and Four scarlet Footmen,
grand as galoon and silver fringe could make them,
did the due magnificence in dress. He was very gra-
cious; saluting to this side and to that, where he noticed
people of condition in the windows. "Along Schweid-
nitz Street, across the Great Ring, down Albreclit
Street. " He alighted, to lodge, at the Count-Schlegen-
berg House; which used to be the Austrian Cardinal
von Sinzendorf, Primate of Silesia's hired lodging, --
Sinzendorfs furniture is put gently. aside, on this new
occasion. King came on the balcony; and stood there
for some minutes, that everybody might see him. The
"immense shoutings," Dryasdust assures me, have been
exaggerated; and I am warned not to believe the
Kriegs-Fama such and such a Number, except after
comparing it with him. -- That day there was dinner
of more than thirty covers, Chief Syndic Gutzmar
and other such guests; but as to the viands, says my
friend, these, owing to the haste, were nothing to
speak of. *
Dinner, better and better ordered, King more and
more gracious, so it continued all the four days of his
Majesty's stay: -- on the second day he had to rise
suddenly from table, and leave his guests with an
apology; something having gone awry, at one of the
Gates. Awry there, between the Town Authorities and
a General Jeetz of his, -- who is on march across the
River at this moment (on what errand we shall hear),
and a little mistakes the terms. His Majesty puts
Jeetz right; and even waits, till he see his Brigade
and him clear across. A junior Schaffgotsch, ** not the
* Helden-Geschichle, i. 545-548. ** lb. ii. 159.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. IV. ] BRESLAU UNDER SOFT PRESSURE. 225
2d-6th Jan. 1741.
inconsolable Schaffgotsch senior, but his Nephew, was
one of the guests this second day; an ecclesiastic, but
of witty fashionable type, and I think a very worthless
fellow, though of a family important in the Province.
Dinner falls about noon; does not last above two hours
or three, so that there is space for a ride ("to the
Dom," the first afternoon, "four runners" always), and
for much in-door work, before the supper-hour.
As the Austrian Authorities sat silent in their place,
and gave no explanation of that "Patent," affixed
amid thunder and lightning, -- they got orders from
his Majesty to go their ways next day; and went. In
behalf of old President von Schaffgotsch, a chief of the
Silesian Nobility, and man much loved, the Breslau
people, and men from every guild and rank of society,
made petition. That he should be allowed to continue
in his Town House here. Which "first request of
yours" his Majesty, with much grace, is sorry to be
obliged to refuse. The suppressed, and insuppressible,
weak indignation of old Schaffgotsch is visible on the
occasion; nor, I think, does Friedrich take it ill; only
sends him out of the way with it, for the time. The
Austrian Ober-Amt vanished bodily from Breslau in
this manner; and never returned. Proper "War-Com-
mission [Feld-Kriegs-Commissariai)" with Munchow, one
of those skilful Cilstrin Miinchows, at the top of it,
organised itself instead; which, almost of necessity,
became Supreme Government in a City ungoverned
otherwise: -- and truly there was little regret of the
Ober-Amt, in Breslau; and ever less, to a marked ex-
tent, as the years went on.
On the 5th of January (fourth and last night here),
his Majesty gave a grand Ball. Had hired, or Colonel
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. VI. 15
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 226
FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [book mi.
2d-6th Jan. 1741.
Posadowsky instead of him had hired, the Assembly
Rooms (Redouten Saat) for the purpose: "Invite all the
the Nobility high and low;" -- expense by estimate is
a ducat (half-guinea) each; do it well, and his Majesty
will pay. About 6 in the evening, his Majesty in per-
son did us the honour to drive over; opened the Ball
with Madam the Countess von Schlegenberg (I should
guess, a Dowager Lady), in whose house he lodges. I
am not aware that his Majesty danced much farther;
but he was very condescending, and spoke and smiled
up and down; -- till, about 10 p. m. , an Officer came
in with a Letter. Which Letter his Majesty having
read, and seemingly asked a question or two in regard
to, put silently in his pocket, as if it were a finished
thing. Nevertheless, after a few minutes, his Majesty
was found to have silently withdrawn; and did not
return, not even to supper. Perceiving which, all the
Prussian official people gradually withdrew; though
the dancing and supping continued not the less, to a
late hour. *
"Open the Austrian Mail-bag (Felleisen)' see a little
what they are saying over there! " Such order had
evidently been given, this night. In consequence of
which people wrote by Dresden, and not the direct
way, in future; wishing to avoid that openable Fell-
eisen. Next morning, January 6th, his Majesty had
left for Ohlau, -- early I suppose; though there
proved to be nothing dangerous ahead there, after all
* Helden-Geschichte, i. 557.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP, v. ] FORWARD ON BRIEG AND NEISSE.
227
7th-12th Jan. 1741.
CHAPTER V.
FE1EDRICH PUSHES FORWARD TOWARDS BRIEG AND NEISSE.
Ohlau is a pleasant little Town, two marches
south-east of Breslau; with the Ohlau River on one
side, and the Oder on the other; capable of some de-
fence, were there a garrison. Brieg the important
Fortress, still on the Oder, is some fifteen miles beyond
Ohlau; after which, bending straight south and quitting
Oder, Neisse the still more important may be thirty
miles: -- from Breslau to Neisse, by this route (which
is low, not string), sixty-five or seventy miles. One
of my Topographers yields this Note, if readers care
for it:
"Ohlau River, an insignificant drab-coloured stream, rises
"well south of Breslau, about Strehlen; makes, at first, direct
"westward towards the Oder; and then, when almost close
"upon it, breaks off to north, and saunters along, irregularly
"parallel to Oder, for twenty miles farther, before it can fall
"fairly in. To this circumstance both Breslau and a Town of
"Ohlau owe their existence; Towns, both of them, 'between
"the waters,' and otherwise well seated; Ohlau sheltering
"itself in the attempted outfall of its little river; Breslau
"clustering itself about the actual outfall: both very defensible
"places in the old rude time, and good for trade in all times.
"Both Oder and Ohlau Rivers have spilt and spread them
"selves into islands and deltas, a good deal, at their place of
"meeting; and even have changed their courses, and cut out
"new channels for themselves, in the sandy country; making
"a very intricate watery network of a site for Breslau: and
"indeed the Ohlau River here, for centuries back, has been
"compelled into wide meanderings, mere filling of rampart-
15*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 228 FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [bOOKXH.
7th-12th Jan. 1741.
"ditches, so that it issues quite obscurely, and in an artificial
"engineered condition, at Breslau. "
Ohlau had been expected to make some defence;
General Browne having thrown 300 men into it, and
done what he could for the works. And Ohlau did at
first threaten to make some; but thought better of it
over night, and in effect made none; but was got
(morning of January 9th) on the common terms, by
merely marching up to it in minatory posture. "Pri-
soners of War, if you make resistance; Free With-
drawal" (Liberty to march away, arms shouldered,
and not serve against us for a year), "if you have
made none;" this is the common course, where there
are Austrian Soldiers at all; the course where none are,
and only a few Syndics sit, with their Town-Key laid
on the table, a prey to the stronger hand, we have
already seen.
From Ohlau, proper Detachment, under General
Kleist is pushed forward to summon Brieg; Jeetz from
the other side of the river (whom we saw crossing at
Breslau the other day, interrupting his Majesty's din-
ner) is to cooperate with Kleist in that enterprise, --
were the Country once cleared on his, Jeetz's, east side
of Oder; especially were Namslau once had, a small
Town and Castle over there, which commands the
Polish and Hungarian road. Friedrich's hopes are
buoyant; Schwerin is swiftly trolling forward to right-
ward, nothing resisting him; Detachment is gone from
Schwerin, over the Hills, to Glatz (the Grafschafi, or
County Glatz, an Appendage to Schlesien), under ex-
cellent guidance; under guidance, namely, of Colonel
Camas, who has just come home from his Parisian
Embassy, and got launched among the wintry Moon-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP, v. ] FORWARD ON BRIEG AND NEISSE. 229
7th-12th Jan. 1741.
tains, on a new operation, -- which, however, proves
of non-effect for the present. *
Indeed, it is observable that southward of Breslau
the dispute, what dispute there can be, properly be-
gins; and that General Browne is there, and shows
himself a shining man in this difficult position. It
must be owned, no General could have made his small
means go farther. Effective garrisons, 1,600 each, put
into Brieg and Neisse; works repaired, magazines col-
lected, there and elsewhere; the rest of his poor 7,000
thriftily sprinkled about, in what good posts there are,
and "capable of being got together in six hours;" a
superior soldier, this Browne, though with a very bad
task; and seems to have inspired everybody with some-
thing of his own temper. So that there is marching,
detaching, miscellaneous difficulty for Friedrich in this
quarter, more than had been expected. If the fate of
Brieg and Neisse be inevitable, Browne does wonders
to delay it.
Of the Prussian marches in these parts, recorded
by intricate Dryasdust, there was no point so notable
to me as this unrecorded one: the Stone Pillar which,
I see, the Kleist Detachment was sure to find, just now,
on the march from Ohlau to Brieg; last portion of that
march, between the village of Briesen and Brieg. The
Oder, flowing on your left hand, is hereabouts agree-
ably clothed with woods: the country, originally a
swamp, has been drained, and given to the plough, in
an agreeable manner; and* there is an excellent road
paved with solid whinstone, -- quarried in Strehlen,
* Helden-Geschichle, i. 678; Orlich, Geschichte der bciden Schlesischen
Kriege, 1. 49.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:23 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijk Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 230
FIRST SILESIAN WAR. [boOKTIT.
7th-12th Jan. 1741.
twenty miles away, among the Hills to the right
yonder, as you may guess, -- road very visible to the
Prussian soldier, though he does not ask where quar-
ried. These beautiful improvements, beautiful hu-
manities, -- were done by whom? "Done in 1584,"
say the records, by "George the Pious;" Duke of
Liegnitz, Brieg, and Wohlau; 156 years ago. "Pious"
his contemporaries called this George; -- he was son
of the Erbverhritderung Duke, who is so important to
us; he was grandfather's grandfather of the last Duke
of all; after whom it was we that should have got
these fine Territories; they should all have fallen to
the Great Elector, had not the Austrian strong hand
provided otherwise. George did these plantations,
recoveries to the plough; made this perennial whin-
stone road across the swamps; upon which, inotable to
the roughest Prussian (being "twelve feet high by
eight feet square"), rises a Hewn Mass with this In-
scription on it, -- not of the name or date of George;
but of a thought of his, which is not without a pious
beauty to me:
Slraverunt alii nobis, nos Postcritati;
Omnibus at Chrisms struvit ad astra viam.
