No More Learning

? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 198 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
1755-176<<.
famishing dog in sight of a too dangerous leg of mut-
ton, Briihl has ever since rather held back; would not
reengage at all, for almost two years, even on the
Czarina's engaging; and then only in a cautious, con-
ditional and hypothetic manner, -- though with famine
increasing day by day in sight of the desired viands.
His hatred is fell; but he would fain escape with back
unbroken.
How Friedrich discovered the Mystery. Concerning Menzel
and Weingarten.
Friedrich has been aware of this mystery, at least
wide awake to it and becoming ever more instructed,
for almost four years. Traitor Menzel the Saxon
Kanzellist, -- we, who have prophetically read what
he had to confess when laid hold of, are aware, though
as yet, and on to 1757, it is a dead secret to all mor-
tals but himself and "three others," -- has been busy
for Prussia, ever since "the end of 1752. " Got ad-
mittance to the Presses; sent his first Excerpt "about
the time of Easter-Fair, 1753," -- time of Voltaire's
taking wing. And has been at work ever since. Copy-
ing Despatches from the most secret Saxon Reposi-
tories; ready always on Excellency Maltzahn's indi-
cating the Piece wanted; and of late, I should think,
is busier than ever, as the Saxon Mystery, which is
also an Austrian and Russian one, gets more light
thrown into it, and seems to be fast ripening towards
action of a perilous nature. The first Excerpts furnished
by Menzel, -- readers can judge how enigmatic they
were. These Menzel Papers, copies mainly of Peters-
burg or Vienna Despatches to Briihl, with Briihl's
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS. 199
1755-1756.
Answers, ? the principal of which were subsequently
printed in their best arrangement and liveliest point of
vision,* -- are by no means a luminous set of Docu-
ments to readers at this day. Think what a study they
were, at Potsdam in 1753, while still in the chaotic
state; fished out, more or less at random, as Menzel
could lay hold of them, or be directed to them; the
enigma clearing itself only by intense inspection, and
capability of seeing in the dark!
It appears, -- if you are curious on the anecdotic
part, --
"Winterfeld was the first that got eye on this dangerous
"Saxon Mystery; some Ex-Saxon, about to settle in Berlin,
"giving hint of it to Winterfeld; who needed only a hint.
"So soon as Winterfeld convinced himself that there was
"weight in the Affair, he imparted it toFriedrich: 'Scheme
"of partitioning, your Majesty, of picking quarrel, then
"overwhelming and partitioning; most serious scheme,
"Austrian-Russian as well as Saxon; going on steadily for
"years past, and very lively at this time! ' If true, Friedrich
"cannot but admit that this is serious enough: important,
"thrice over, to discover whether it is true; -- and gives
"Winterfeld authority to prosecute it to the bottom, in
"Dresden or wherever the secret may lie. Who thereupon
"charged Maltzahn, the Prussian Minister at Dresden, to
"find some proper Menzel, and bestir himself. How Maltzahn
"has found his Menzel, and has bestirred himself, we saw.
"Thief-keys were made to pattern in Berlin; first set did not
"fit, second did; and stealthy Menzel gains admittance to
"that Chamber of the Archives, can steal thither on shoes of
* In Friedrich's Manifestos, chiefly in Memoire Baisonne sur la Conduile
des Cours de Vienne et de Saxe (compiled from the Menzel Originals, so soon
as these were got hold of: Berlin, Autumn 1756). A solid and able Paper;
rapidly done, by one Count Herzberg, who rose high in after times. Re-
printed, with many other "Pieces" and "Passages," in Gesammelte Nach-
richten und Urkunden, -- which is a " Collection" of such (2 voll. , 113 Nos. ,
small 8vo, no Place, 1757, my Copy of it).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 200 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
1755-1756.
'felt when occasion serves, and copy what you wish, -- for a
'consideration. Intermittently, since about Easter-Fair,
'1753. Three persons are cognizant of it, Winterfeld,
'Maltzahn, Friedrich; three, and no more. Probably the
'abstrusest study, and the most intense, going on in the
'world at that epoch. *
"At a very early stage of the Menzel Excerpts, it became
'manifest that certain synchronous Austrian Ditto would
'prove highly elucidative; that, in fact, it would be in-
'dispensable to get hold of these as well. Which also
'Winterfeld has managed to do. A deep-headed man, who
'has his eyes about him; and is very apt to manage what he
'undertakes. One Weingarten Junior, a Secretary in the
'Austrian Embassy at Berlin (Excellency Peubla's second
'Secretary), has his acquaintanceships in Berlin Society;
'and for one thing, as Winterfeld discovers, is 'madly in
'love" with some Chambermaid or quasi-chambermaid (let
'us call her Chambermaid), 'Daughter of the Castellan at
'Charlottenburg. ' Winterfeld, through the due channels,
'applied to this Chambermaid, 'Get me a small secret Copy
'of such and such Despatches, out of your Weingarten; it
'will be well for you and him; otherwise perhaps not well! '
'Chambermaidj nope urging, or perhaps hope and fear, did
'her best; Weingarten nad to yield the required product
'and products, as required. By this Weingarten, from
'some date not long after Menzel's first mysterious Dresden
'Excerpts, the necessary Austrian glosses, so far as possible
'to Weingarten on the indications given him, have been re-
'gularly had, for the two or three years past.
"Weingarten first came to be seriously suspected, June
'1756 (Weingarten Junior, let us still say, for there was a
'Senior of unstained fidelity); 'June 15th,' Excellency
'Peubla pointedly demands him from Friedrich and the
'Berlin Police: 'Weingarten junior, my second Secretar,
'fugitive and traitor; hidden somewhere! '** Excellency
'Peubla is answered, 24th June: 'We would so fain catch
'him, if we could! We have tried at Stendal, -- not there:
'tried his Mother-in-law; knows nothing: have forborne
* Retzow, Charakteristik des Sicbenjdhrigen Krieges (Berlin, 1802), i. 23.
. ** "Berlin, 22d June: Every research making for Mr. Weingarten, --
"In rain hitherto" Gentleman's Magazine, xxvi. , i. e. for 1756,'p. 363).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS. 201
17S5-1756.
"laying up his poor Wife and children; and hope her Im-
"perialMajesty will have pity on that poor creature, who is
"fallen so miserable. '* So that Excellency Peubla had
"nothing for it but to compose himself; to honour the un-
"stainable fidelity of Weingarten Senior, by a public piece
"of promotion, which soon ensued; and let the Junior run.
"Weingarten Junior, on the first suspicion, had vanished
"with due promptitude, -- was not to be unearthed again.
"We perceive he has married his Charlottenburg Beauty,
"and there are helpless babies. It seems 'he lived long
"years after, in the Altmark, as aHerr von Weiss,' -- his
"reflexions manifold, but unknown. ** What is muchnot-
"abler, Cogniazo, the Austrian Veteran, heard Weingarten's
"Master, Graf von Peubla, talk of the 'grand mystb-e,' soon
"after, and howFriedrich had heard of it, not from Wein-
"garten alone, but from Gross-Fiirst Peter, Russian Heir-
"Apparent! ***
"As to Menzel, he did not get away. Menzel, as we saw,
"lasted in free activity till 1757; and was then put under lock
"and key. Was not hanged; sat prisoner, for twenty-seven
"years after; over-grown with hair, legs and arms chained
"together, heavy iron-bar uniting both ankles; diet bread-
"and-water; -- for the rest, healthy; and died, not very
"miserable it is said, in 1784. Shocking traitors, Weingarten
"and he. "
Yes; a diabolical pair, they, sure enough: -- and
the thing they betrayed against their Masters, was that
a celestial thing? Servants of the Devil do fall out;
and Servants not of the Devil are fain, sometimes, to
raise a quarrel of that kind! --
The then world, as we said, was one loud uproar
of logic on the right reading and the wrong of those
Sibylline Documents: "Did your King of Prussia in-
terpret them aright, or even try it? Did not he use
them as a cloak for highway robbery, and swallowing
* llelden-Geschichle, m. 713. ** Retzow, i. 37.
*** Cogniazo, i. 225.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 202 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book xvn.
1755-1756.
of a peaceable Saxony, bad man that he surely is? "
For Friedrich's demeanour, this time again, when it
came to the acting point, was of eminent rapidity; al-
most a swifter lion-spring than ever; and it brought
on him, in the aerial or vocal way, its usual result:
huge clamour of rage and logic from uninformed man-
kind. Clamorous rage and logic, which has now sunk
irresuscitably dead; -- nothing of it much worth men-
tioning to modern readers, scarcely even its Hie Jacet
(in Footnotes, for the benefit of the curious! ), -- and
it is, at last, a thing not doubtful to anybody that
Friedrich, in that matter, did read aright. So that
now the loud uproar is reduced to one small question
with us, "What did he read in those Menzel Documents?
What Fact lying in them was it that Friedrich had to
read? Here, smelted down by repeated roastings, is
succinct answer; -- for the ultimate fragment of in-
combustible, here as elsewhere, will go into a nut-shell,
once the continents of Diplomatist-Gazetteer logic,
and disorderly stable-litter, threatening to heap them-
selves over the very stars, have been faithfully burnt
away.
Readers heard of a "Union of Warsaw," early in 1745,
concluded by the Sea-Powers, and the Saxon-Polish and
Hungarian Majesties: very harmless Union of Warsaw,
public to all the world, -- but with a certain thrice-secret
"Treaty of Warsaw" (between Polish and Hungarian Majesty
themselves two, the Sea-Powers being horror-struck by
mention of it) which had followed thereupon, in an eager
and wonderful manner. Thrice-secret Treaty, for Partition-
ing Friedrich, and settling the respective shares of his skin.
Treaty which, to denote its origin, we called of Warsaw;
though it was not finished there (shares of skin so difficult to
settle), and "Treaty of Leipzig, 18th May 1745," is its alias
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS. 203
1755-1756.
in Books: -- of which Treaty, as the Sea-Powers had recoiled
horror-struck, there was no whisper farther, to them or to
the rest of exoteric mankind; -- though it has been one of the
busiest Entities ever since. From the Menzel Documents, I
know not after what circuitous gropings and searchings,
Friedrich first got notice of that Treaty:* figure his look on
discovering it!
We said it was the remarkablest bit of sheepskin in its
Century. Readers have heard too, That it was proposed to
Briihl, by a grateful Austria, directly on signing the Peace
of Dresden: "Our Partition-Treaty stands all the same, does
it not? " -- and in what humour Briihl answered: "Hah?
Get Russia to join! " Both these facts, That there is a Treaty
of Warsaw, and that this is the Austrian-Saxon temper and
intention towards him and it, Friedrich learned from the
Menzel Documents. And if the reader will possess himself
of these two facts, and understand that they are of a ger-
minative, most vital quality, indestructible by the times and
the chances; and have been growing and developing them-
selves, day and night ever since, in a truly wonderful man-
ner, -- the reader knows in substance what Menzel had
to reveal.
Russia was got to join; -- there are methods of operating
on Russia, and kindling a poor fat Czarina into strange sus-
picions and indignations. In May 1746, within six months of
the Peace of Dresden, a Treaty of Petersburg, new version
of the Warsaw one, was brought to parchment; Czarina and
Empress-Queen signing, -- Briihl dying to sign, but not
daring. How Russia has been got to join, and more and more
vigorously bear a hand; how Briihl s rabidities of appetite,
and terrors of heart, have continued ever since; how Austria
and Russia, -- Briihl aiding with hysterical alacrity, haunted
by terror (and at last mercifully excused from signing), --
have, year after year, especially in this last year 1755,
brought the matter nearer and nearer perfection; and the
Two Imperial Majesties, with Briihl to rear, wait only till
they are fully ready, and the world gives opportunity, to pick
a quarrel with Friedrich, and overwhelm and partition him,
according to covenant: This, wandering through endless
mazes of detail, is in sum what the Menzel Documents dis-
* Now printed (Euvres da Friduric, iv. 40-42.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 204 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEOUNS. [book XVII.
1755-1756.
close to Friedrich and us. How, in a space of ten years, the
small seedgrain of a Treaty of Warsaw, or Treaty of Peters-
burg, planted and nourished in that manner, in the Satan's
Invisible World, has grown into a mighty Tree there, --
prophetic of Facts near at hand; which were extremely
sanguinary to the Human Race for the next Seven Years.
This is the sum-total: but for Friedrich's sake, and
to illustrate the situation, let us take a few glances
more, into the then Satan's Invisible World, which had
become so ominously busy round Friedrich and others.
The Czarina, we say, was got to engage; 22d May
1746, there came a Treaty of Petersburg duly valid,
which is that of Warsaw under a new name: and still
Briihl durst not, for above a year coming, -- not till
August 15th, 1747;* and then, only in a hypothetic
half-and-half way, with fear and trembling, though
with hunger unspeakable, in sight of the viands. A
very wretched Briihl, as seen in these Menzel Docu-
ments. On poor Polish Majesty Briihl has played the
sorcerer, this long while, and ridden him, as he would
an enchanted quadruped, in a shameful manner: but
how, in turn (as we study Menzel), is Briihl himself
hag-ridden, hunted by his own devils, and leads such
a ghastly phantasmal existence yonder, in the Valley
of the Shadow of Clothes, -- mere Clothes, metaphori-
cal and literal! ** Wretched Briihl, agitated with hatreds
of a rather infernal nature, and with terrors of a not
celestial, comes out on our sympathies, as a dog al-
most pitiable, -- were that possible, with twelve tailors
'. '. i* Memoin flai'<<imiic(in Gesammelte Nachrichlen), i. 459.
** "Montrez-moi des vertus, pas des culottes (Have you no virtues, then,
to show me; nothing but pairs of breeches)! " exclaimed an impatient
French Traveller, led about in BriihrsPalace, one day: Archenholz, Ge-
schichte des Skuetijdhrigen Krieges, i. 63.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS. 205
1755-1756.
sewing for him, and a Saxony getting shoved over the
precipices by him.
A famishing dog in the most singular situation.
What he dare do, he does, and with such a will. But
there is almost only one thing safe to him: that of
egging-on the Czarina against Friedrich; of coining
lies to kindle Czarish Majesty; of wafting on every
wind rumours to that end, and continually besieging
with them the empty Czarish mind. Briihl has many
Conduits, "the Sieur de Funck," "the Sieur Gross,"
plenty of Legationary Sieurs and Conduits; -- which
issue from all quarters on Petersburg, and which find
there a Reservoir, and due Russian service-pipes, pre-
pared for them; -- and Briihl is busy. "Commerce of
Dantzig to be ruined," suggests he, "that is plain:
look at his Asiatic Companies, his Port of Embden.
Poland is to be stirred up; -- has not your Czarish
Majesty heard of his intrigues there? Courland, which
is almost become your Majesty's, -- cunningly snatched
by your Majesty's address, like a valuable moribund
whale adrift among the shallows, -- this bad man will
have it out to sea again, with the harpoons in it; fairly
afloat amid the Polish Anarchies again! " These are
but specimens of Briihl. Or we can give such in Briihl's own words, if the reader had rather. Here are Two,
which have the advantage of brevity:
10.
* * The Sieur de Funck, Saxon Minister at Peters-
burg, wrote to Count Briihl, 9th July 1755 (says an inexor-
able Record),
"That the Sieur Gross" (now Minister of Russia at
Dresden, who vanished out of Berlin like an angry sky-rocket
some years ago) "would do a good service to the Common
"Cause, if he wrote to his Court, 'That the King of Prussia
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 206 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
1755-1756.
"'had found a channel in Courland, by which he learned all
"'the secrets of the Russian Court;'" and Sieur Funck add-
ed, "that it was expected good use could be made of such a
"story with her Czarish Majesty. " -- To which Count Briihl
replies, 23d July, "That he has instructed the Sieur Gross,
"who will not fail to act in consequence. "
2? . Sieur Prasse, same Funck's Secretary of Legation,
at Petersburg, writes to Count Briihl, 12th April 1756:
"I am bidden signify to your Excellency that it is greatly
"wished, in order to favour certain views, you would have
"the goodness to cause arrive in Petersburg, by different
"channels, the following intelligence; 'That the King of
'"Prussia, on pretext of Commerce, is sending officers and
'"engineers into the Ukraine, to reconnoitre the Country
"' and excite a rebellion there. ' And this advice, be pleased
"to observe, is not to come direct from the Saxon Court, nor
"by the Envoy Gross, but by some third party, -- to the end
"there may be no concert noticed; -- as they" (Van, the
"service-pipes," and managing Excellencies, Russian and
Austrian) "have given the same commission to other Mi-
"nisters, so that the news shall come from more places
"than one.
"They" (the said managing Excellencies) "have also
"required me to write to the Baron de Sack," our Saxon
Minister in Sweden, "upon it, which I will not fail to do;
"and they assured me that our Court's advantage was not
"less concerned in it than that of their own; adding these
"words" (comfortable to one's soul), "The King of Prussia"
"(in 1745) "gave Saxony a blow which it will feel for fifty
"years; but we will give him one which he will feel for a
"hundred. "'
To which beautiful suggestion Excellency Briihl answers,
2d June 1756: "As to the Secret Commission of conveying
"to Petersburg, by concealed channels, Intelligence of
"Prussian machinations in the Ukraine, we are still busy
"finding out a right channel; and they" (Fon, the managing
Excellencies) "shall very soon, one way or the other, see
"the effect of my personal inclination to second what is so
"good an intention, though a little artful (unpen artificieuse,"
-- unpen, nothing to speak of)! *
? liimoire Raisonni (in Gesammelle Nachrichten), i. 424-5; and ib. 472.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHip. I. ] THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS. 207
1755-1756.
Fancy a poor fat Czarina, of many appetites, of
little judgment, continually beaten upon in this manner
by the Saxon-Austrian artists and their Russian ser-
vicepipes. Bombarded with cunningly devised fabrica-
tions, every wind freighted for her with phantasmal
rumours, no ray of direct daylight visiting the poor
Sovereign Woman; who is lazy, not malignant if she
could avoid it: mainly a mass of esurient oil, with
alkali on the back of alkali poured in, at this rate, for
ten years past; till, by pouring and by stirring, they
get her to the state of soap and froth! Is it so wonder-
ful that she does, by degrees, rise into eminent suspi-
cion, anger, fear, violence and vehemence against her
bad neighbour? One at last begins to conceive those in-
sane whirls, continual mad suspicions, mad procedures,
which have given Friedrich such vexation, surprise and
provocation in the years past.
Friedrich is always specially eager to avoid ill-will
from Russia; but it has come, in spite of all he could
do and try. And these procedures of the Czarish Ma-
jesty have been so capricious, unintelligible, perverse,
and his feeling is often enough irritation, temporary
indignation, -- which we know makes Verses withal!
I can nowhere learn from those Prussian imbroglios of
Books, what the Friedrich Sayings or Satirical Verses
properly were: Retzow speaks of a Produkt, one at least,
known in interior Circles. * Produkt which decidedly
requires publication, beyond anything Friedrich ever
wrote; -- though one can do without it too, and invoke
Fancy in defect of Print. The sharpness of Friedrich's
tongue we know; and the diligence of birds of the air.
* Retzow, i. 34.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 208 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGHNS. [book XVir.
1755-1756.
To all her other griefs against the bad man, this has
given the finish in the tender Czarish bosom; -- and
like an envenomed drop has set the saponaceous oils
(already dosed with alkali, and well in solution) foam-
ing deliriously over the brim, in never-imagined deluges
of a hatred that is unappeasable; -- very costly to
Friedrich and mankind. Rising ever higher, year by
year; and now risen, to what height judge by the
following:
At Petersburg, 14th-15th May 1753, "There was Meeting of
"the Russian Senate, with deliberation held for these two
"days; and for issue this conclusion come to,
"That it should be, and hereby is, settled as a funda-
"mental maxim of the Russian Empire, Not only to oppose
"any farther aggrandisement of the King of Prussia, but to
"seize the first convenient opportunity for overwhelming
"(ecraser), by superior force, the House of Brandenburg
(Hear, hear! ), "and reducing it to its former state of me-
"diocrity. " * Leg of mutton to be actually gone into. With
what an enthusiasm of "Hear, hear! " from Briihl and kindred
parties; especially from Briihl, -- who, however, dare not yet
bite, except hypothetically, such his terrors and tremors. Or
look again (same Senate,
At Petersburg, October 1755): "To which Fundamental
"Maxim, articulately fixed ever since those Maydays of 1753,
"the august Russian Sanhedrim, deliberating farther in Oc-
"tober 1755, adds this remarkable extension,
"That it is our resolution to attack the King of Prussia
"without farther discussion, whensoever the said King shall
"attack any Ally of Russia's, or shall himself be attacked by
"any of them. " Hailed by Briihl, as natural, with his liveliest
approval. "A glorious Deliberation, that, indeed! " writes
he: "It clears the way of action for Russia's Allies in this
"matter; and for us too; though nobody can blame us, if we
"proceed with the extremest caution," -- and rather wait till
the Bear is nearly killed. **
* Mcmoire Raisonnc (in Gesammelle Nachrichlen), I. 421.
** Gesammelle Nachrichlen, i. 422.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS. 209
J755-1756.
Many marvels Friedrich had deciphered out of this
Weingarten-Menzel Apocalypse of Satan's Invisible
World; and one often fancies Friedrich's tone of mind,
in his intense inspecting of that fateful continent of
darkness, and his labyrinthic stepping by degrees to
the oracular points, which have a light in them when
flung open. But in respect of practical interest, this
of October 1755 (which would get to Potsdam, pro-
bably, in few weeks after) must have surpassed all the
others. Marvels many, one after the other:* no doubt
left, long since, of the constant disposition, preparation
and fixed intention to partition him. But here, in this
last indication by the Russian Senate, -- which kindles
into dismal evidence so many other enigmatic tokens,
-- there has an ulterior oracular point disclosed itself
to Friedrich; in vaguer condition, but not less in-
dubitable, and much more perilous: namely, That now,
at last (end of 1755), the Two Imperial Majesties, very
eager both, consider that the time is come. And are,
-- as Friedrich looks abroad on the Austrian-Russian
marchings of troops, campings, and unusual military
symptoms and combinations, -- visibly preparing to
that end.
"They have agreed to attack me next Year (1756),
if they can; and next again (1757), without if:" so
Friedrich, putting written word and public occurrence
together, gradually reads; and so, all readers will see,
the fact was, -- though Imperial Majesty at Schon-
* For example, or in recapitulation: a Treaty of Warsaw, or Leipzig,
to partition him (18th May 1745); Treaty of Petersburg (22d May 1746, new
form of Warsaw Treaty, with Czarina superadded); tremulous Quasi-
Accession thereto of his Polish Majesty (most tremulous, hypothetic Quasi-
Accession, *Yes-and-No,* 15th August 1747, and often afterwards); first
Deliberation of the Russian Senate, 15th May 1753; &c. &c.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. IX. s 14
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 210 SEVEN-YEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
1755-17561
brunn, as we shall find, strove to deny it when applied
to; and scouted, as mere fiction and imagination, the
notion of such an "Agreement. " Which I infer, there-
fore, not to have existed in parchment, not in parchment,
but only in reality, and as a mutual Bond registered
in -- shall we say "in Heaven," as some are wont? --
registered, perhaps, in Two Places, very separate in-
deed! No truer "Agreement" ever did exist; -- though
a devout Imperial Majesty denies it, who would shudder
at the lie direct.
Poor Imperial Majesty: who can tell her troubles
and straits in this abstruse time! Heaven itself ordering
her to get back the Silesia of her Fathers, if she could;
-- yet Heaven always looking dubious, surely, upon
this method of doing it. By solemn Public Treaties
signed in sight of all mankind; and contrariwise, in
the very same moments, by Secret Treaties, of a fell
nature, concocted under ground, to destroy the life of
these! Imperial Majesty flatters herself it may be fair:
"Treaty of Dresden, Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle; Treaties
wrung from me by force, the tyrannic Sea-Powers
screwing us; Kaunitz can tell! A consummateKaunitz;
who has provided remedies. Treaties do get broken.
Besides, I will not go to War, unless he the Bad One
of Prussia do! " -- Alas, your noble Majesty, plain it
at least is, your love of Silesia is very strong. And
consummate Kaunitz and it have led you into strange
predicaments. The Pompadour, for instance: who was
it that answered, "Je ne la connais pas; I don't know
her, I? " How gladly would the Imperial Maria Theresa,
soul of Propriety, have made that answer! But she did
not; she had to answer differently. For Kaunitz was
imperative: "A kind little Note to the Pompadour;
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. I. ] THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS. 211
1755-1756.
one, and then another and another; it is indispensable,
your Imperial Majesty! " And Imperial Majesty always
had to do it. And there exist in writing, at this hour,
various flattering little Notes from Imperial Majesty to
that Address; which begin, "Ma Cousine," "Princesse
et Cousine," say many witnesses; nay "Madame ma tres
Chere Saiur" says one good witness:* -- Notes which
ought to have been printed, before this, or given at
least to the Museums. "My Cousin," "Princess and
Cousin," "Madam my Dearest Sister:" Oh, high Im-
perial Soul, with what strange bedfellows does Misery,
of various kinds, bring us acquainted!
Friedrieh was blamably imprudent in regard to Pompa-
dour, thinks Valori: "A little complaisance might have" --
What might it not have done! -- "But his Prussian Majesty
"would not. And while the Ministers of all the other Powers"
allied with France "went assiduously to pay their court to
"Madame, the Baron von Knyphausen alone, by his Master's
"order, never once went" ("Don't! Je ne la connaispas"),--
"while the Empress-Queen was writing her the mostflatter-
"ing letters. The Prince of Prussia, King's eldest Brother,
"wished ardently to obtain her Portrait, and had applied to
"me for it; as had Prince Henri to my Predecessor. The
"King, who has such gallant and seductive ways when he
"likes, could certainly have reconciled this celebrated
"Lady," -- a highly important Improper Female to him and
others. **
Yes; but he quite declined, not counting the costs.
Costs may be immediate; profits are remote, -- remote,
but sure. Costs did indeed prove considerable, per-
haps far beyond his expectation; though, I flatter my-
* Hormayr (cited in Preuss, I. 433 n. , -- as are Duclos; Montgaillard;
Memoires tie Richelieu; &c).
*<< Valori, i. 320.
14*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 212 SEVEN-TEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
1755-1756.
self, they never awoke much remorse in him, on that score! --
Friedrich's Enigma, towards the end of 1755 and
onwards, is becoming frightfully stringent; and the so-
lution, "What practically will be the wise course for
me? " does not lessen in abstruse intricacy, but the
reverse, as it grows more pressing. A very stormy and
dubious Future, truly! Two circumstances in it will be
highly determinative: one of them evident toFriedrich;
the other unknown to him, and to all mortals, except
two or three. First,
That there will be an English-French War straight-
way; and that, as usual, the French, weaker at sea,
will probably attack Hanover; -- that is to say, bring
the War home to one's own door, and ripen into ful-
filment those Austrian-Russian Plots. This is this evi-
dent circumstance; fast coming on; visible to Friedrich
and to everybody. But that, in such event, Austria
will join, not with England, but with France: this is
a second circumstance, guessable by nobody; known
only to Kaunitz and a select one or two; but which
also will greatly complicate Friedrich's position, and
render his Enigma indeed astonishingly intricate, as
well as stringent for solution!
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. II. ] ENGLISH DIPLOMACIES IN PROSPECT OF WAR. 213
1755-1756.
CHAPTER II.
ENGLISH DIPLOMACIES ABROAD, IN PROSPECT OP A
FRENCH WAR.
BritAnnic Majesty, I know not at what date, but
before the launching of that poor Braddock thunder-
bolt, much more after the tragic explosion it made, had
felt that French War was nearly inevitable, and also
that the French method would be, as heretofore, to
attack Hanover, and wound him in that tender part.
There goes on, accordingly, a lively Foreign Diplo-
matising, on his Majesty's part, at present, -- in de-
fect, almost total, of Domestic Preparation, military
and other; -- Majesty and Ministers expecting salva-
tion from abroad, as usual. Military preparation does
lag at a shameful rate: but, on the other hand, there
is a great deal of pondering, really industrious con-
sidering and contriving, about Foreign Allies, and their
subsidies and engagements. That step, for example,
the questionable Seizure of the French Ships without
Declaration of War, was a contrivance by diplomatic
Heads (of bad quality): "Seize their ships," said some
bad Head, after meditating; "put their ships in seques-
tration, till they do us justice. If they won't, and go
to War, -- then they are the Aggressors, not we; and
our Allies have to send their auxiliary quotas, as per
contract! " So the Ships were seized; held in sequestra-
tion, "till many of the cargoes (being perishable goods,
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:32 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiijh Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 214 SEVEN-TEARS WAR BEGINS. [book XVII.
1755-1756.
some even fish) rotted. "* And in return, as will be
seen, not one auxiliary came to hand: so that the
diplomatic Head had his rotted cargoes, and much
public obloquy, for his pains. Not a fortunate stroke
of business, that! --
Britannic Majesty, on applying at Vienna (through
Keith, Sir Robert Murray Keith, the first Excellency
of that name, for there are two, a father and a son,
both Vienna Excellencies), was astonished to learn
That, in such event of an Aggression, even on Hanover,
there was no cooperation to be looked for here. Alto-
gether cold on that subject, her Imperial Majesty seems;
regardless of Excellency Keith's remonstrances and
urgencies; and, in the end, is flatly negatory: "Cannot
do it, your Excellency; times so perilous, bad King of
Prussia so minatory," -- not to mention, sotto voce,
that we have turned on our axis, and the wind (thanks
to Kaunitz) no longer hits us on the same cheek as
formerly!