Since March 17th,
Friedrich
was no longer in
Leipzig.
Leipzig.
Thomas Carlyle
] WINTER-QUARTERS 1760-61.
169
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
"siderable, or more considerable than has Ferdinand him-
"self. "*
The vital element in Ferdinand's Adventure was
the Siege of Cassel; all had to fail, when this, by
defect of means, under the best of management, de-
clared itself a failure. Siege-Captain was a Graf von
Lippe-Biickeburg, Ferdinand's Ordnance-Master, who is
supposed to be "the best Artillery Officer in the world,"
-- and is a man of great mark in military and other
circles. He is Son and Successor of that fantastic
Lippe-Biickeburg, by whom Friedrich was introduced
to Free-Masonry long since. He has himself a good
deal of the fantast again, but with a better basis of
solidity beneath it. A man of excellent knowledge
and faculty in various departments; strict as steel, in
regard to discipline, to practice and conduct of all
kinds; a most punctilious, silently supercilious gen-
tleman, of polite but privately irrefragable turn of
mind. A tall, lean, dusky figure; much seen to by
neighbours, as he stalks loftily through this puddle of
a world, on terms of his own. Concerning whom there
circulates in military circles this Anecdote, among many
others: -- which is set down as a fact; and may be,
whether quite believable or not, a symbol of all the
rest, and of a man not unimportant in these Wars.
"Two years ago, on King Friedrich's birthday, 24th
"January 1759, the Count had a select dinner-party in
"his tent in Ferdinand's Camp, in honour of the occa-
sion. Dinner was well over, and wine handsomely
"flowing, when somebody at last thought of asking,
"'What is it, then, Herr Graf, that whistling kind of
? Tempelhof, v. 15-45; Mauvillon, n. 135-148.
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? 170 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Dec. 1760--April 1761.
"noise we hear every now and then overhead? ' 'That
"is nothing,' said the Graf, in his calm, dusky way:
"'that is only my Artillery-people practising; I have
"bidden them hit the pole of our tent if they can: un-
happily there is not the slightest danger. Push the
"bottles on. '"* Lippe-Biickeburg was Siege-Captain
at Cassel; Commandant besieged was Comte de Broglio,
the Marshal's younger Brother, formerly in the Diplo-
matic line; -- whom we saw once, five years ago, at
the Pirna Barrier, fly into fine frenzy, and kick vainly
against the pricks. Friedrich says once, to D'Argens
or somebody: "I hope we shall soon have Cassel, and
M. le Comte de Broglio prisoner" (deserves it for his
fine frenzies, at Pirna and since); -- but that comfort
was denied us.
Some careless Books say, Friedrich had at first
good hopes of this Enterprise; and "had himself lent
7,000 men to it:" which is the fact, but not the whole
fact. Friedrich had approved, and even advised this
plan of Ferdinand's, and had agreed to send 7,000
men to cooperate at Langensalza, -- which, so far out
in Thuringen, ' and pointing as if to the Reichsfolk, is
itself an eye-sorrow to Friedrich. The issue we have
seen. His 7,000 went accordingly, under a General
Syburg; met the Ferdinand people (General Sporken
head of these, and Walpole's "Conway" one of them);
found the Unstrut in flood, but crossed nevertheless;
dashed in upon the French and Saxons there, and
made a brilliant thing of it at Langensalza. ** Which
done, Syburg instantly withdrew, leaving Sporken and
* Archenholtz, n. 356.
** Bericht von der bey Langensalza am 15 Februar 1761 voryefaUcnen
Action (in Seyfarth, Beylagen, m. 75); Tcmpclhof, v. 22-27.
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? CHAP. vI. ] WINTER-QUARTERS 1760-61. 171
Dec. 1760--April 1761.
his Conways to complete the Adventure; and, for his
part, set himself with his whole might "to raising con-
"tributions, recruits, horses, proviants, over Thiiringen;"
"which," says Tempelhof, "had been his grand errand
"there, and in which he succeeded wonderfully. "
Towards the end of Ferdinand's Affair, Cassel Siege
now evidently like to fail, Friedrich organised a small
Expedition for his own behoof: expedition into Voigt-
land, or Frankenland, against the intrusive Reichs
people, -- who have not now a Broglio or Langensalza
to look across to, but are mischievous upon our out-
posts on the edge of the Voigtland yonder. The ex-
pedition lasted only ten days (Aprillxt, it left quarters;
April 11th, was home again); a sharp, swift and very
pretty expedition;* of which we can here say only
that it was beautifully impressive on the Reichs gen-
tlemen, and sent their Croateries and them home again,
to Bamberg, to Eger, quite over the horizon, in a con-
siderably flurried state. After which there was no
Small-War farther, and everybody rested in cantonment,
making ready till the Great should come.
The Prussian wounded are all in Leipzig this
Winter; a crowded stirring Town; young Archenholtz,
among many others, going about in convalescent state,
-- not attending Gellert's course, that I hear of, -- but
noticing vividly to right and left. Much difficulty
about the contributions, Archenholtz observes; -- of
course an ever-increasing difficulty, here as everywhere,
in regard to finance! From Archenholtz chiefly, I
present the following particulars; which, though in
loose form, and without date, except the general one of
* Tempelhof, v. 48'57.
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? 172 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Dec. 17CC -- April 1761.
Winter 1760-61, to any of them, are to be held sub-
stantially correct:
* * "'It is impossible to pay that Contribution,' ex-
"claim the Leipzigers: 'you said, long since, it was to be
"75,000/. on us by the year; and this year you rise to 160,000/. ;
"more than double! ' -- 'Perhaps that is because you fa-
voured the Reichsfolk while here? ' answer the Prussians, if
"they answer anything: 'It is the King's order. Pay it you
"must. ' -- 'Cannot; simply impossible. ' 'Possible, we tell
"you, and also certain; we will burn your Leipzig if you
"don't! ' And they actually, these Collector fellows, a stony-
hearted set, who had a percentage of their own on the sums
"levied, got soldiers drawn out more than once, pitch-link in
"hand, as if for immediate burning: but the Leipzigers
"thought to themselves, 'King Friedrich is not a Soltikof! '
"and openly laughed at those pitchlinks. Whereupon about
"a hundred of their Chief Merchants were thrown into prison,
"one hundred or so, riddled down in a day or two to Seven-
"teen; which latter Seventeen, as they stood out, were
"detained a good many days, how many is not said, but only
"that they were amazingly firm. Black-hole for lodging,
"bread-and-water for diet, straw for bed: nothing would
"avail on the Seventeen: 'Impossible,' they answered always;
"each unit of them, in sight of the other sixteen, was upon his
"honour, and could not think of flinching. 'You shall go
"for soldiers, then; -- possibly you will prefer that, you fine
"powdered velvet gentlemen? Up, then, and march; here
"are your firelocks, your seventeen knapsacks: to the road "the Seventeen, horror-struck at such quasi-actual possibility,
"gave in.
"Magnanimous Gotzkowsky, who had come to Leipzig on
"business at the time" (which will give us a date for this by
and by), "and been solemnly applied to by Deputation of the
"Rath, pleaded with his usual zealous fidelity in their behalf;
"got various alleviations, abatements; gave bills: -- 'Never
"was seen such magnanimity! ' said the Leipzig Town-
"Council solemnly, as that of Berlin, in October last, had
"done. '
t Archenhollz, u. 187-192.
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? CHAP. vI. ] WINTER-QUARTERS 1760-61. 173
Dec. 1760 --April 17C1.
Of course the difficulties, financial and other, are
increasing every Winter; -- not on Friedrich's side
only. Here, for instance, from the Duchy of Got-
tingen, are some items in the French Account cur-
rent, this Winter, which are also furnished by Archenholtz:
"For bed-ticking, 13,000webs; of shirts ready-made, 18,000;
"shoes," I forget in what quantity; but"from the poor little
"Town of Duderstadt 600pairs, -- liability to instant flogging
"if they are not honest shoes; flogging, and the whole shoe- "maker guild summoned out to see it. " Hardy women the
same Duderstadt has had to produce: 300 of them, "each
"with basket on back, who are carrying cannon-balls from
"the foundry at Lauterberg to Grottingen, the road being
"bad. "* "These French are in such necessity," continues
"Archenholtz, "they spare neither friend nor foe. The
"Frankish Circle, for example, pleads piteously in Reichs "Diet that it has already smarted by this War to the length
"of 2,230,000/. , and entreats the Kaiser to bid Most Christian
"Majesty cease his exactions, -- but without the least result. "
Result! If Most Christian Majesty and his Pompadour will con-
tinue this War, is it he, or is it you, that can furnish the Maga-
zines? "Magazine-furnishings, over all Hessen and this part
"of Hanover, are enormous. Recruits too, native Hessian,
"native Hanoverian, you shall furnish, -- and ' We will hang
"them, and do, if caught deserting' (to their own side)! "
I add only one other item from Archenholtz: "Mice being
"busy in these Hanover Magazines, it is decided to have cats,
"and a requisition goes out accordingly" (cipher not given):
"cats do execution for a time, but cannot stand the confine-
"ment," are averse to the solitary system, and object (think
with what vocality! ): "upon which Hanover has to send foxes
"and weasels. "** These guardian animals, and the 300
women laden with cannon-balls from the forge, are the most
peculiar items in the French Account current, and the last I
will mention.
Difficulty, quasi-impossibility, on the French side,
there evidently is, perhaps more than on any other.
* Archenholtz, n. 237. ** Ibid. <<. 240.
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? 174 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
But Choiseul has many arts; -- and his Official
existence, were there nothing more, demands that h6
do the impossible now if ever. This Spring (26th
March 1761), to the surprise and joy of mankind, there
came formal Proposal, issuing from Choiseul, to which
Maria Theresa and the Czarina had to put their signa-
tures; regretting that the British-Prussian Proposal of
last Year had, by ill accident, fallen to the ground, and
now repeating it themselves (real "Congress at Augs-
burg," and all things fair and handsome) to Britannic
and Prussian Majesties. Who answer (April 3d) as
before, "Nothing with more willingness, we! "*
And there actually did ensue, at Paris, a vivid
Negotiating all Summer; which ended, not quite in
nothing, but in less, if we might say so. Considerably
less, for some of us. We shall have to look what end
it had, and Mauduit will look! -- Most people, Pitt
probably among the others, came to think that Choi-
seul, though his France is in beggary, had no real
view from the first, except to throw powder in the eyes
of France and mankind, to ascertain for himself on
what terms those English would make Peace, and to
get Spain drawn into his quarrel. A Choiseul with
many arts. But we will leave him and his Peace-
Proposals, and the other rumours and futilities of this
Year. They are part of the sound and smoke which
fill all Years; and which vanish into next to nothing,
oftenest into pure nothing, when the Years have waited
a little. Friedrich's finances, copper and other, were
got completed; his Armies too were once more put on
a passable footing; -- and this Year will have its
realities withal.
* The "Declaration" (of France &c), with the Answer or "Counter- Declaration," in Seyfarth, Beylagen, in. 12-16.
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? CHAP. vI. ] WINTER-QUARTERS 1760-61. 175
Dec. 1760--April 1761.
Gotzkowsky, in regard to those Leipzig Finance
difficulties, yields me a date, which is supplementary
to some of the Archenholtz details. I find it was
"January 20th, 1761," -- precisely while the Saldern
Interview, and subsequent wreck of Hubertsburg, went
on, -- that "Gotzkowsky arrived in Leipzig,"* and
got those unfortunate Seventeen out of ward, and the
contributions settled.
And withal, at Paris, in the same hours, there went
on a thing worth noting. That January day, while
Icilius was busy on the Schloss of Hubertsburg, poor
old Marechal de Belleisle, -- mark him, reader! -- "in
"the Rue de Lille at Paris," lay sunk in putrid fever;
and on the fourth day after, "January 26th, 1761,"
the last of the grand old Frenchmen died. "He had
"been reported dead three days before," says Barbier:
"the public wished it so; they laid the blame on him
"of this apparent" (let a cautious man write it, "ap-
parent) derangement in our affairs," -- instead of
thanking him for all he had done and suffered (loss of
so much, including reputation and an only Son) to
repair and stay the same. "He was in his 77th year.
"Many people say, 'We must wait three months, to
"see if we shall not regret him,'" -- even him! ** So
generous are Nation's.
Marechal Due de Belleisle was very wealthy: in
Vernon Country, Normandy, he had estates and cha-
teaux to the value of about 24,000/. annually. All
these, having first accurately settled for his own debts,
he, in his grand old way, childless, forlorn, but loftily
polite to the last, bequeathed to the King. His splendid
* Rodenbeck, u. 77. ** Barbier, iv. 373; i. 154.
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? 176 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
Paris Mansion he expressly left "to serve in perpetuity
"as a residence for the Secretary of State in the De-
partment of War:" a magnificent Town-House it is,
"hotel magnifique, at the end of the Pont-Royal" --
which, I notice farther, is in our time called "Hotel de
Choiseul-Praslin," -- a house latterly become horrible
in men's memory, if my guess is right.
And thus vanishes, in sour dark clouds, the once
great Belleisle. Grandiose, something almost of great
in him, of sublime, -- alas, yes, of too sublime; and of
unfortunate beyond proportion, paying the debt of
many foregoers! He too is a notability gone out, the
last of his kind. Twenty years ago, he crossed the
CEil-de-Boeuf with Papers, just setting out to cut
Teutschland in Four: and in the Rue de Lille, No. 54,
with that grandiose Enterprise drawing to its issue in
universal defeat, disgrace, discontent, and preparation
for the General Overturn (Culbute Generate of 1789),
he closes his weary old eyes. Choiseul succeeds him
as War-Minister; War-Minister and Prime-Minister both
in one; -- and by many arts of legerdemain, and an-
other real spasm of effort upon Hanover to do the im-
possible there, is leading France with winged steps the
same road.
Since March 17th, Friedrich was no longer in
Leipzig. He left at that time, for Meissen-Country,
and the Hill Cantonments, -- organised there his
little Expedition into Voigtland, for behoof of the
Reichsfolk; -- and did not return. Continued, mostly
in Meissen Country, as the fittest for his many busi-
nesses, Army-regulatings and other. Till the Campaign
come, we will remember of him nothing, but this little
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? CHAP. vI. ] WINTER-QUARTERS 1700-61. 177
Dec. 1760--April 1761.
Note, and pleasant little Gift, to his Chere Maman, the
day after his arrival in those parts:
To Madame Camas (at Magdeburg, with the Queen).
"Meissen, 20th March 1761.
"I send you, my dear Mamma, a little Trifle, by way of
"keepsake and memento" (Snuffbox of Meissen Porcelain,
with the figure of a Dog on the lid). "You may use the Box
"for your rouge, for your patches, or you may put snuff in it,
"or bonbons or pills: but whatever use you turn it to, think
"always, when you see this Dog, the Symbol of Fidelity, that
"he who sends it, outstrips, in respect of fidelity and attach-
"ment to Maman, all the dogs in the world; and that his
"devotion to you has nothing whatever in common with
"the fragility of the material which is manufactured here-
"abouts.
"I have ordered Porcelain here for all the world, for
"Schonhausen" (for your Mistress, my poor uncomplaining
Wife), "for my Sisters-in-law; in fact, I am rich in this brittle
"material only. And I hope the receivers will accept it as
"current money: for, the truth is, we are poor as can be, good
"Mamma; I have nothing left but honour, my coat, my sword,
"and porcelain.
"Farewell, my beloved Mamma. If Heaven will, I shall
"one day see you again face to face; and repeat to you, by
"word of mouth, what I have already said and written; but,
"turn it and re-turn it as I may, I shall never, except very
"incompletely, express what the feelings of my heart to you
"are. -- F. "*
*#* It was during this Winter, if it ever was, that Fried-
rich received the following Letter from an aspiring Young
Lady, just coming out, age seventeen, -- in a remote sphere
of things. In "Sleepy Hollow" namely, or the Court of Mirow
in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, where we once visited withFriedrich
almost thirty years ago. The poor collapsed Duke has ceased
making dressing-gowns there; and this is his Niece, Princess
Charlotte, Sister to the now reigning Duke.
* Given in Rotienbeck, n. 79; omitted, for I know not what reason, in
lEuvres de Frederic, xvm. 145: cited partly in Preuss, n. 282.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. XII. 12
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? 178 FRD3DRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
ThisLetter, in the translated form, and the glorious results
it' had for some of us, are familiar to all English readers for
the last hundred years. Of Friedrich's Answer to it, if he
sent one, we have no trace whatever. Which is a pity, more
or less; -- though, in truth, the Answer could only have been
some polite formality; the Letter itself being a mere breath
of sentimental wind, absolutely without significance to Fried-
rich or anybody else, -- except always to the Young Lady
herself, to whom it brought alioyal Husband andQueenshipof
England, within a year. Signature, presumably, this Letter
once had; date of place, of day, year, or even century (except
by implication), there never was any: but judicious persons,
scanning on the spot, have found that the "Victory" spoken
of can only have meant Torgau; and that the aspiring Young
Lady, hitherto a School Girl, not so much as "confirmed" till
a month or two ago, age seventeen in May last, can only have
written it, atMirow, in the Winter subsequent. * Certain it
is, in September next, September 1761, directly after George
III. 's Wedding, there appeared in the English Newspapers,
what doubtless had been much handed about in society be-
fore, the following "Translation of a Letter, said to have been
"written by Princess Charlotte of Mecklenberg to the King of
"Prussia, on one of his Victories," -- without farther com-
mentary or remark of any kind; everybody then understand-
ing, as everybody still. So notable a Document ought to be
given in the Original as well (or in what passes for such), and
with some approach to the necessary preliminaries of time
and place:**
[To his Majesty the King of Prussia (in Leipzig, or Somewhere).
Mirow in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Winter of 1760-61 ]
"Sire! -- Ich weiss nicht, ob "May it please your Majesty,
ichiiberEwr. Majestat letzteren "I am at a loss . whether 1
Sieg frOhlich oder traurig sein shall congratulate or condole
soil, weil eben der gluckliche with you on your late victory;
* Ludwig Giesebrecht,'--Dtr Fiirstt'nhof in Mirow wdhrend der Jahre
1708-1761, in Programm des wreinigten Koidglichcn und Stadl-Gymnasiums
for 1863 (Stettin, 1863), pp. 26-29, -- enters into a minute criticism.
** From Gentleman's Magazine (for October 1761, xxxi. 447) we take,
verbatim, the Translation; from Preuss (n. 186) the "Original," who does not say where he got it, -- whether from an old German Newspaper or not.
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? chAP. n. ] winter-qua:
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
Sieg, der neue Lorbeern um
Dero Scheitel geflochten hat,
u? ber mein Vaterland Jammer
und Elend verbreitet. Ich weiss,
Sire, in diesem unserm laster-
haft verfeinerten Zeitalter werde
ich verlacht werden, dass mein
Herz u? ber das Unglu? ck des
Landes trauert, das ich die
Drangsale des Krieges beweine,
und von ganzer Seele die Ru? ck-
kehr des Friedens wu? nsche.
Selbst Sie, Sire, werden viel-
leicht denken, es schicke sich
besser fu? r mich, mich in der
Kunst zu gefallen zu u? ben, oder
mich nur um ha? usliche An-
gelegenheiten zu beku? mmern.
Allein demseye, wie ihm wolle,
so fu? hlt mein Herz zu sehr fu? r
diese Unglu? cklichen, um eine
dringende Fu? rbitte fu? r dieselben
zuru? ck zu halten.
"Seit wenigen Jahren hatte
dieses Land die angenehmste
Gestalt gewonnen. Man traf
keine vero? dete Stellen an. Alles
war angebaut. Das Landvolk
sah vergnu? gt aus, und in den
Sta? dten herrschte Wohlstand
und Freude. Aber welch' eine
Vera? nderung gegen eine so an-
genehme Scene! Ichbinin partheischen Beschreibungen nicht
erfahren, noch weniger kann
ich die Gra? uel der Verwu? stung
mit erdichteten Schilderungen
schrecklicher darstellen. Allein
gewiss selbst Krieger, welche ein
edles Herz und Gefu? hl besitzen,
wu? rden durch den Anblick die-
TERS 1760-61. 179since the same success that
has covered you with laurels
has overspread the Country of
Mecklenburg^ with desola-
tion. I know, Sire, that it
seems unbecoming my sex, in
this age of vicious refinement,
to feel for one's Country, to
lament the horrors of war, or
wish for the return of peace.
I know you may think it more
properly my province to study
the art of pleasing, or to turn
my thoughts to subjects of a
more domestic nature: but,
however unbecoming it may
be in me, I can't resist the de- ,sire of interceding for this un-
happy people.
"It was butavery fewyears
ago that this territory wore
the most pleasing appearance.
The Country was cultivated,
the peasant looked cheerful,
and the towns abounded with
riches and festivity. What
an alteration at present from
such a charming scene! I am
? ? not expert at description, nor
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? 180 FRIEDEICH NOT TO
BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX. Dec. 1760--April 1761.
ser Scenen zu Thronen bewegt
werden. Das ganze Land, mein
werthes Vaterland, liegt da
gleich einer Wu? ste. Der Acker-
bau und die Viehzucht haben
aufgeho? rt. Der Bauer und der
Hirt sind Soldaten worden, und
in den Sta? dten sieht man nur
Greise, Weiber und Kinder,
vielleicht noch hie und da einen
jungen Mann, der aber durch
empfangene Wunden ein Kru? p-
pel ist und den ihn. umgebenden
kleinen Knaben die Geschichte
einer jeden Wunde mit einem so
pathetischen Heldenton erza? hlt,
dass ihr Herz schon der Trom-
mel folgt, ehe sie recht gehen
ko? nnen. Was aber das Elend
auf den ho? chsten Gipfel bringt,
sind die immer abwechselnden
Vorru? ckungen und Zuru? ckzieh-
ungen beider Armeen, da selbst
die, so sich unsre Freunde nen-
nen , beim Abzu? ge alles mitneh-
men und verheeren, und wenn
sie wieder kommen, gleich viel
wieder herbei geschafft haben
wollen. Von Dero Gerechtig-
keit, Sire, hoffen wir Hu? lfe in
dieser a? ussersten Noth. An Sie,
Sire, mo? gen auch Frauen, ja
selbst Kinder ihre Klagen brin-
gen. Sie, die sich auch zur
niedrigsten Klasse gu? tigst her-
ablassen, und dadurch, wenn
es mo? glich ist, noch gro? sser
werden, als selbst durch ihre
Siege, werden die meinigen
nicht unerho? rt lassen und, zur
Ehre Dero eigenen Ruhmes, Be-
man and the shepherd are be-
come soldiers themselves, and
help to ravage the soil they
formerly occupied. The towns
are inhabited only by old
men, women and children;
perhaps here and there a war-
rior, by wounds and loss of
limbs, rendered unfit for ser-
vice, left at his door; his little
children hang round him, ask
a history of every wound, and
grow themselves soldiers be-
fore they find strength for the
field. But this were nothing,
did we not feel the alternate
insolence of either army, as
it happens to advance or re-
treat. It is impossible to
express the confusion, even
those who call themselves our
friends create. Even those
from whom we might expect
redress, oppress us with new
calamities. From your justice,
therefore, it is that we hope
? ? relief; to you even children
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? CHAP. vI. ]
181
WINTER-QUARTERS 1760-61.
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
dru? ckungen und Drangsalen
abhelfen, irelche wider alle
Menschenliebe und wider alle
gute Kriegszucht streiten. Ich
It is remarked that this Young Lady, so amiably melodi- seems to be writing to the wind; and that she gives nothing
of fact or picture in regard to Mecklenburg, especially to
Mecklenburg-. S7reKfe, but what is taken from her own beauti-
ful young brain. All operatic, vague, imaginary, -- some of
it expressly untrue. * So that latterly there have been doubts
as to its authenticity altogether! ** And in fact the Piece
has a good deal the air of some School-Exercise, Model of
Letter-writing, Patriotic Aspiration or the like; -- thrown
off, shall we say, by the young Parson of Mirow (Charlotte's
late Tutor i, with Charlotte there to sign; or by some Patriotic
Schoolmaster elsewhere, anywhere, in a moment of en-
thusiasm, and without any Charlotte but a hypothetic one?
Certainly it is difficult to fancy how a modest, rational, practi-
cal young person like Charlotte can have thought of so airy a
feat of archery into the blue! Charlotte herself never dis-
avowed it, that I heard of; and to Colonel Grahame the Ex-
Jacobite, hunting about among potential Queens of England,
for behoof of Bute and of a certain Young King and King's
Mother, the Letter did seem abundantly unquestionable and
adorable. Perhaps authentic, after all; -- and certainly
small matter whether or not.
* In Mecklenburg-Scftwerin, which had always to smart sore for its
Duke and the line he took, the Swedes, this year, as usual (but, till Tor-
gau, with more hope than usual), had been trying for winter-quarters: and
had by the Prussians, as usual, been hunted out, -- Eugen of Wiirtemberg
speeding thither, directly after Torgau; Rostock his winter-quarters; --
who, doubtless with all rigour, is levying contributions for Prussian be-
hoof. But as to Mecklenburg-Strelitz, -- see, for example, in Schoning,
in. 30 &c, an indirect but altogether conclusive proof of the perfectly
amicable footing now and always subsisting there; Friedrich reluctant to intrude even with a small request or solicitation, on Eugen's behalf, at
this time.
** Boll, Geschichte Mecklenburgs mit besonderer Jierucksichtigung derCul-
turgeschichte (Neubrandenburg, 1858), n. 303-305;" -- cited by Giesebrecht,
who himself takes the opposite view.
bin Sfc. "
ous in tone, though
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? 182 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
25th April--19th Aug. 1761.
CHAPTER VII.
SIXTH CAMPAIGN OPENS: CAMP OF BUNZELWITZ.
To the outward observer, Friedrich stands well at
present, and seems again in formidable posture. After
two such Victories, and such almost miraculous recovery
of himself, who shall say what resistance he will not
yet make? In comparison with 1759 and its failures
and disasters, what a Year has 1760 been!
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
"siderable, or more considerable than has Ferdinand him-
"self. "*
The vital element in Ferdinand's Adventure was
the Siege of Cassel; all had to fail, when this, by
defect of means, under the best of management, de-
clared itself a failure. Siege-Captain was a Graf von
Lippe-Biickeburg, Ferdinand's Ordnance-Master, who is
supposed to be "the best Artillery Officer in the world,"
-- and is a man of great mark in military and other
circles. He is Son and Successor of that fantastic
Lippe-Biickeburg, by whom Friedrich was introduced
to Free-Masonry long since. He has himself a good
deal of the fantast again, but with a better basis of
solidity beneath it. A man of excellent knowledge
and faculty in various departments; strict as steel, in
regard to discipline, to practice and conduct of all
kinds; a most punctilious, silently supercilious gen-
tleman, of polite but privately irrefragable turn of
mind. A tall, lean, dusky figure; much seen to by
neighbours, as he stalks loftily through this puddle of
a world, on terms of his own. Concerning whom there
circulates in military circles this Anecdote, among many
others: -- which is set down as a fact; and may be,
whether quite believable or not, a symbol of all the
rest, and of a man not unimportant in these Wars.
"Two years ago, on King Friedrich's birthday, 24th
"January 1759, the Count had a select dinner-party in
"his tent in Ferdinand's Camp, in honour of the occa-
sion. Dinner was well over, and wine handsomely
"flowing, when somebody at last thought of asking,
"'What is it, then, Herr Graf, that whistling kind of
? Tempelhof, v. 15-45; Mauvillon, n. 135-148.
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? 170 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Dec. 1760--April 1761.
"noise we hear every now and then overhead? ' 'That
"is nothing,' said the Graf, in his calm, dusky way:
"'that is only my Artillery-people practising; I have
"bidden them hit the pole of our tent if they can: un-
happily there is not the slightest danger. Push the
"bottles on. '"* Lippe-Biickeburg was Siege-Captain
at Cassel; Commandant besieged was Comte de Broglio,
the Marshal's younger Brother, formerly in the Diplo-
matic line; -- whom we saw once, five years ago, at
the Pirna Barrier, fly into fine frenzy, and kick vainly
against the pricks. Friedrich says once, to D'Argens
or somebody: "I hope we shall soon have Cassel, and
M. le Comte de Broglio prisoner" (deserves it for his
fine frenzies, at Pirna and since); -- but that comfort
was denied us.
Some careless Books say, Friedrich had at first
good hopes of this Enterprise; and "had himself lent
7,000 men to it:" which is the fact, but not the whole
fact. Friedrich had approved, and even advised this
plan of Ferdinand's, and had agreed to send 7,000
men to cooperate at Langensalza, -- which, so far out
in Thuringen, ' and pointing as if to the Reichsfolk, is
itself an eye-sorrow to Friedrich. The issue we have
seen. His 7,000 went accordingly, under a General
Syburg; met the Ferdinand people (General Sporken
head of these, and Walpole's "Conway" one of them);
found the Unstrut in flood, but crossed nevertheless;
dashed in upon the French and Saxons there, and
made a brilliant thing of it at Langensalza. ** Which
done, Syburg instantly withdrew, leaving Sporken and
* Archenholtz, n. 356.
** Bericht von der bey Langensalza am 15 Februar 1761 voryefaUcnen
Action (in Seyfarth, Beylagen, m. 75); Tcmpclhof, v. 22-27.
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? CHAP. vI. ] WINTER-QUARTERS 1760-61. 171
Dec. 1760--April 1761.
his Conways to complete the Adventure; and, for his
part, set himself with his whole might "to raising con-
"tributions, recruits, horses, proviants, over Thiiringen;"
"which," says Tempelhof, "had been his grand errand
"there, and in which he succeeded wonderfully. "
Towards the end of Ferdinand's Affair, Cassel Siege
now evidently like to fail, Friedrich organised a small
Expedition for his own behoof: expedition into Voigt-
land, or Frankenland, against the intrusive Reichs
people, -- who have not now a Broglio or Langensalza
to look across to, but are mischievous upon our out-
posts on the edge of the Voigtland yonder. The ex-
pedition lasted only ten days (Aprillxt, it left quarters;
April 11th, was home again); a sharp, swift and very
pretty expedition;* of which we can here say only
that it was beautifully impressive on the Reichs gen-
tlemen, and sent their Croateries and them home again,
to Bamberg, to Eger, quite over the horizon, in a con-
siderably flurried state. After which there was no
Small-War farther, and everybody rested in cantonment,
making ready till the Great should come.
The Prussian wounded are all in Leipzig this
Winter; a crowded stirring Town; young Archenholtz,
among many others, going about in convalescent state,
-- not attending Gellert's course, that I hear of, -- but
noticing vividly to right and left. Much difficulty
about the contributions, Archenholtz observes; -- of
course an ever-increasing difficulty, here as everywhere,
in regard to finance! From Archenholtz chiefly, I
present the following particulars; which, though in
loose form, and without date, except the general one of
* Tempelhof, v. 48'57.
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? 172 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Dec. 17CC -- April 1761.
Winter 1760-61, to any of them, are to be held sub-
stantially correct:
* * "'It is impossible to pay that Contribution,' ex-
"claim the Leipzigers: 'you said, long since, it was to be
"75,000/. on us by the year; and this year you rise to 160,000/. ;
"more than double! ' -- 'Perhaps that is because you fa-
voured the Reichsfolk while here? ' answer the Prussians, if
"they answer anything: 'It is the King's order. Pay it you
"must. ' -- 'Cannot; simply impossible. ' 'Possible, we tell
"you, and also certain; we will burn your Leipzig if you
"don't! ' And they actually, these Collector fellows, a stony-
hearted set, who had a percentage of their own on the sums
"levied, got soldiers drawn out more than once, pitch-link in
"hand, as if for immediate burning: but the Leipzigers
"thought to themselves, 'King Friedrich is not a Soltikof! '
"and openly laughed at those pitchlinks. Whereupon about
"a hundred of their Chief Merchants were thrown into prison,
"one hundred or so, riddled down in a day or two to Seven-
"teen; which latter Seventeen, as they stood out, were
"detained a good many days, how many is not said, but only
"that they were amazingly firm. Black-hole for lodging,
"bread-and-water for diet, straw for bed: nothing would
"avail on the Seventeen: 'Impossible,' they answered always;
"each unit of them, in sight of the other sixteen, was upon his
"honour, and could not think of flinching. 'You shall go
"for soldiers, then; -- possibly you will prefer that, you fine
"powdered velvet gentlemen? Up, then, and march; here
"are your firelocks, your seventeen knapsacks: to the road "the Seventeen, horror-struck at such quasi-actual possibility,
"gave in.
"Magnanimous Gotzkowsky, who had come to Leipzig on
"business at the time" (which will give us a date for this by
and by), "and been solemnly applied to by Deputation of the
"Rath, pleaded with his usual zealous fidelity in their behalf;
"got various alleviations, abatements; gave bills: -- 'Never
"was seen such magnanimity! ' said the Leipzig Town-
"Council solemnly, as that of Berlin, in October last, had
"done. '
t Archenhollz, u. 187-192.
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? CHAP. vI. ] WINTER-QUARTERS 1760-61. 173
Dec. 1760 --April 17C1.
Of course the difficulties, financial and other, are
increasing every Winter; -- not on Friedrich's side
only. Here, for instance, from the Duchy of Got-
tingen, are some items in the French Account cur-
rent, this Winter, which are also furnished by Archenholtz:
"For bed-ticking, 13,000webs; of shirts ready-made, 18,000;
"shoes," I forget in what quantity; but"from the poor little
"Town of Duderstadt 600pairs, -- liability to instant flogging
"if they are not honest shoes; flogging, and the whole shoe- "maker guild summoned out to see it. " Hardy women the
same Duderstadt has had to produce: 300 of them, "each
"with basket on back, who are carrying cannon-balls from
"the foundry at Lauterberg to Grottingen, the road being
"bad. "* "These French are in such necessity," continues
"Archenholtz, "they spare neither friend nor foe. The
"Frankish Circle, for example, pleads piteously in Reichs "Diet that it has already smarted by this War to the length
"of 2,230,000/. , and entreats the Kaiser to bid Most Christian
"Majesty cease his exactions, -- but without the least result. "
Result! If Most Christian Majesty and his Pompadour will con-
tinue this War, is it he, or is it you, that can furnish the Maga-
zines? "Magazine-furnishings, over all Hessen and this part
"of Hanover, are enormous. Recruits too, native Hessian,
"native Hanoverian, you shall furnish, -- and ' We will hang
"them, and do, if caught deserting' (to their own side)! "
I add only one other item from Archenholtz: "Mice being
"busy in these Hanover Magazines, it is decided to have cats,
"and a requisition goes out accordingly" (cipher not given):
"cats do execution for a time, but cannot stand the confine-
"ment," are averse to the solitary system, and object (think
with what vocality! ): "upon which Hanover has to send foxes
"and weasels. "** These guardian animals, and the 300
women laden with cannon-balls from the forge, are the most
peculiar items in the French Account current, and the last I
will mention.
Difficulty, quasi-impossibility, on the French side,
there evidently is, perhaps more than on any other.
* Archenholtz, n. 237. ** Ibid. <<. 240.
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? 174 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
But Choiseul has many arts; -- and his Official
existence, were there nothing more, demands that h6
do the impossible now if ever. This Spring (26th
March 1761), to the surprise and joy of mankind, there
came formal Proposal, issuing from Choiseul, to which
Maria Theresa and the Czarina had to put their signa-
tures; regretting that the British-Prussian Proposal of
last Year had, by ill accident, fallen to the ground, and
now repeating it themselves (real "Congress at Augs-
burg," and all things fair and handsome) to Britannic
and Prussian Majesties. Who answer (April 3d) as
before, "Nothing with more willingness, we! "*
And there actually did ensue, at Paris, a vivid
Negotiating all Summer; which ended, not quite in
nothing, but in less, if we might say so. Considerably
less, for some of us. We shall have to look what end
it had, and Mauduit will look! -- Most people, Pitt
probably among the others, came to think that Choi-
seul, though his France is in beggary, had no real
view from the first, except to throw powder in the eyes
of France and mankind, to ascertain for himself on
what terms those English would make Peace, and to
get Spain drawn into his quarrel. A Choiseul with
many arts. But we will leave him and his Peace-
Proposals, and the other rumours and futilities of this
Year. They are part of the sound and smoke which
fill all Years; and which vanish into next to nothing,
oftenest into pure nothing, when the Years have waited
a little. Friedrich's finances, copper and other, were
got completed; his Armies too were once more put on
a passable footing; -- and this Year will have its
realities withal.
* The "Declaration" (of France &c), with the Answer or "Counter- Declaration," in Seyfarth, Beylagen, in. 12-16.
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? CHAP. vI. ] WINTER-QUARTERS 1760-61. 175
Dec. 1760--April 1761.
Gotzkowsky, in regard to those Leipzig Finance
difficulties, yields me a date, which is supplementary
to some of the Archenholtz details. I find it was
"January 20th, 1761," -- precisely while the Saldern
Interview, and subsequent wreck of Hubertsburg, went
on, -- that "Gotzkowsky arrived in Leipzig,"* and
got those unfortunate Seventeen out of ward, and the
contributions settled.
And withal, at Paris, in the same hours, there went
on a thing worth noting. That January day, while
Icilius was busy on the Schloss of Hubertsburg, poor
old Marechal de Belleisle, -- mark him, reader! -- "in
"the Rue de Lille at Paris," lay sunk in putrid fever;
and on the fourth day after, "January 26th, 1761,"
the last of the grand old Frenchmen died. "He had
"been reported dead three days before," says Barbier:
"the public wished it so; they laid the blame on him
"of this apparent" (let a cautious man write it, "ap-
parent) derangement in our affairs," -- instead of
thanking him for all he had done and suffered (loss of
so much, including reputation and an only Son) to
repair and stay the same. "He was in his 77th year.
"Many people say, 'We must wait three months, to
"see if we shall not regret him,'" -- even him! ** So
generous are Nation's.
Marechal Due de Belleisle was very wealthy: in
Vernon Country, Normandy, he had estates and cha-
teaux to the value of about 24,000/. annually. All
these, having first accurately settled for his own debts,
he, in his grand old way, childless, forlorn, but loftily
polite to the last, bequeathed to the King. His splendid
* Rodenbeck, u. 77. ** Barbier, iv. 373; i. 154.
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? 176 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
Paris Mansion he expressly left "to serve in perpetuity
"as a residence for the Secretary of State in the De-
partment of War:" a magnificent Town-House it is,
"hotel magnifique, at the end of the Pont-Royal" --
which, I notice farther, is in our time called "Hotel de
Choiseul-Praslin," -- a house latterly become horrible
in men's memory, if my guess is right.
And thus vanishes, in sour dark clouds, the once
great Belleisle. Grandiose, something almost of great
in him, of sublime, -- alas, yes, of too sublime; and of
unfortunate beyond proportion, paying the debt of
many foregoers! He too is a notability gone out, the
last of his kind. Twenty years ago, he crossed the
CEil-de-Boeuf with Papers, just setting out to cut
Teutschland in Four: and in the Rue de Lille, No. 54,
with that grandiose Enterprise drawing to its issue in
universal defeat, disgrace, discontent, and preparation
for the General Overturn (Culbute Generate of 1789),
he closes his weary old eyes. Choiseul succeeds him
as War-Minister; War-Minister and Prime-Minister both
in one; -- and by many arts of legerdemain, and an-
other real spasm of effort upon Hanover to do the im-
possible there, is leading France with winged steps the
same road.
Since March 17th, Friedrich was no longer in
Leipzig. He left at that time, for Meissen-Country,
and the Hill Cantonments, -- organised there his
little Expedition into Voigtland, for behoof of the
Reichsfolk; -- and did not return. Continued, mostly
in Meissen Country, as the fittest for his many busi-
nesses, Army-regulatings and other. Till the Campaign
come, we will remember of him nothing, but this little
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? CHAP. vI. ] WINTER-QUARTERS 1700-61. 177
Dec. 1760--April 1761.
Note, and pleasant little Gift, to his Chere Maman, the
day after his arrival in those parts:
To Madame Camas (at Magdeburg, with the Queen).
"Meissen, 20th March 1761.
"I send you, my dear Mamma, a little Trifle, by way of
"keepsake and memento" (Snuffbox of Meissen Porcelain,
with the figure of a Dog on the lid). "You may use the Box
"for your rouge, for your patches, or you may put snuff in it,
"or bonbons or pills: but whatever use you turn it to, think
"always, when you see this Dog, the Symbol of Fidelity, that
"he who sends it, outstrips, in respect of fidelity and attach-
"ment to Maman, all the dogs in the world; and that his
"devotion to you has nothing whatever in common with
"the fragility of the material which is manufactured here-
"abouts.
"I have ordered Porcelain here for all the world, for
"Schonhausen" (for your Mistress, my poor uncomplaining
Wife), "for my Sisters-in-law; in fact, I am rich in this brittle
"material only. And I hope the receivers will accept it as
"current money: for, the truth is, we are poor as can be, good
"Mamma; I have nothing left but honour, my coat, my sword,
"and porcelain.
"Farewell, my beloved Mamma. If Heaven will, I shall
"one day see you again face to face; and repeat to you, by
"word of mouth, what I have already said and written; but,
"turn it and re-turn it as I may, I shall never, except very
"incompletely, express what the feelings of my heart to you
"are. -- F. "*
*#* It was during this Winter, if it ever was, that Fried-
rich received the following Letter from an aspiring Young
Lady, just coming out, age seventeen, -- in a remote sphere
of things. In "Sleepy Hollow" namely, or the Court of Mirow
in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, where we once visited withFriedrich
almost thirty years ago. The poor collapsed Duke has ceased
making dressing-gowns there; and this is his Niece, Princess
Charlotte, Sister to the now reigning Duke.
* Given in Rotienbeck, n. 79; omitted, for I know not what reason, in
lEuvres de Frederic, xvm. 145: cited partly in Preuss, n. 282.
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. XII. 12
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? 178 FRD3DRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
ThisLetter, in the translated form, and the glorious results
it' had for some of us, are familiar to all English readers for
the last hundred years. Of Friedrich's Answer to it, if he
sent one, we have no trace whatever. Which is a pity, more
or less; -- though, in truth, the Answer could only have been
some polite formality; the Letter itself being a mere breath
of sentimental wind, absolutely without significance to Fried-
rich or anybody else, -- except always to the Young Lady
herself, to whom it brought alioyal Husband andQueenshipof
England, within a year. Signature, presumably, this Letter
once had; date of place, of day, year, or even century (except
by implication), there never was any: but judicious persons,
scanning on the spot, have found that the "Victory" spoken
of can only have meant Torgau; and that the aspiring Young
Lady, hitherto a School Girl, not so much as "confirmed" till
a month or two ago, age seventeen in May last, can only have
written it, atMirow, in the Winter subsequent. * Certain it
is, in September next, September 1761, directly after George
III. 's Wedding, there appeared in the English Newspapers,
what doubtless had been much handed about in society be-
fore, the following "Translation of a Letter, said to have been
"written by Princess Charlotte of Mecklenberg to the King of
"Prussia, on one of his Victories," -- without farther com-
mentary or remark of any kind; everybody then understand-
ing, as everybody still. So notable a Document ought to be
given in the Original as well (or in what passes for such), and
with some approach to the necessary preliminaries of time
and place:**
[To his Majesty the King of Prussia (in Leipzig, or Somewhere).
Mirow in Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Winter of 1760-61 ]
"Sire! -- Ich weiss nicht, ob "May it please your Majesty,
ichiiberEwr. Majestat letzteren "I am at a loss . whether 1
Sieg frOhlich oder traurig sein shall congratulate or condole
soil, weil eben der gluckliche with you on your late victory;
* Ludwig Giesebrecht,'--Dtr Fiirstt'nhof in Mirow wdhrend der Jahre
1708-1761, in Programm des wreinigten Koidglichcn und Stadl-Gymnasiums
for 1863 (Stettin, 1863), pp. 26-29, -- enters into a minute criticism.
** From Gentleman's Magazine (for October 1761, xxxi. 447) we take,
verbatim, the Translation; from Preuss (n. 186) the "Original," who does not say where he got it, -- whether from an old German Newspaper or not.
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? chAP. n. ] winter-qua:
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
Sieg, der neue Lorbeern um
Dero Scheitel geflochten hat,
u? ber mein Vaterland Jammer
und Elend verbreitet. Ich weiss,
Sire, in diesem unserm laster-
haft verfeinerten Zeitalter werde
ich verlacht werden, dass mein
Herz u? ber das Unglu? ck des
Landes trauert, das ich die
Drangsale des Krieges beweine,
und von ganzer Seele die Ru? ck-
kehr des Friedens wu? nsche.
Selbst Sie, Sire, werden viel-
leicht denken, es schicke sich
besser fu? r mich, mich in der
Kunst zu gefallen zu u? ben, oder
mich nur um ha? usliche An-
gelegenheiten zu beku? mmern.
Allein demseye, wie ihm wolle,
so fu? hlt mein Herz zu sehr fu? r
diese Unglu? cklichen, um eine
dringende Fu? rbitte fu? r dieselben
zuru? ck zu halten.
"Seit wenigen Jahren hatte
dieses Land die angenehmste
Gestalt gewonnen. Man traf
keine vero? dete Stellen an. Alles
war angebaut. Das Landvolk
sah vergnu? gt aus, und in den
Sta? dten herrschte Wohlstand
und Freude. Aber welch' eine
Vera? nderung gegen eine so an-
genehme Scene! Ichbinin partheischen Beschreibungen nicht
erfahren, noch weniger kann
ich die Gra? uel der Verwu? stung
mit erdichteten Schilderungen
schrecklicher darstellen. Allein
gewiss selbst Krieger, welche ein
edles Herz und Gefu? hl besitzen,
wu? rden durch den Anblick die-
TERS 1760-61. 179since the same success that
has covered you with laurels
has overspread the Country of
Mecklenburg^ with desola-
tion. I know, Sire, that it
seems unbecoming my sex, in
this age of vicious refinement,
to feel for one's Country, to
lament the horrors of war, or
wish for the return of peace.
I know you may think it more
properly my province to study
the art of pleasing, or to turn
my thoughts to subjects of a
more domestic nature: but,
however unbecoming it may
be in me, I can't resist the de- ,sire of interceding for this un-
happy people.
"It was butavery fewyears
ago that this territory wore
the most pleasing appearance.
The Country was cultivated,
the peasant looked cheerful,
and the towns abounded with
riches and festivity. What
an alteration at present from
such a charming scene! I am
? ? not expert at description, nor
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? 180 FRIEDEICH NOT TO
BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX. Dec. 1760--April 1761.
ser Scenen zu Thronen bewegt
werden. Das ganze Land, mein
werthes Vaterland, liegt da
gleich einer Wu? ste. Der Acker-
bau und die Viehzucht haben
aufgeho? rt. Der Bauer und der
Hirt sind Soldaten worden, und
in den Sta? dten sieht man nur
Greise, Weiber und Kinder,
vielleicht noch hie und da einen
jungen Mann, der aber durch
empfangene Wunden ein Kru? p-
pel ist und den ihn. umgebenden
kleinen Knaben die Geschichte
einer jeden Wunde mit einem so
pathetischen Heldenton erza? hlt,
dass ihr Herz schon der Trom-
mel folgt, ehe sie recht gehen
ko? nnen. Was aber das Elend
auf den ho? chsten Gipfel bringt,
sind die immer abwechselnden
Vorru? ckungen und Zuru? ckzieh-
ungen beider Armeen, da selbst
die, so sich unsre Freunde nen-
nen , beim Abzu? ge alles mitneh-
men und verheeren, und wenn
sie wieder kommen, gleich viel
wieder herbei geschafft haben
wollen. Von Dero Gerechtig-
keit, Sire, hoffen wir Hu? lfe in
dieser a? ussersten Noth. An Sie,
Sire, mo? gen auch Frauen, ja
selbst Kinder ihre Klagen brin-
gen. Sie, die sich auch zur
niedrigsten Klasse gu? tigst her-
ablassen, und dadurch, wenn
es mo? glich ist, noch gro? sser
werden, als selbst durch ihre
Siege, werden die meinigen
nicht unerho? rt lassen und, zur
Ehre Dero eigenen Ruhmes, Be-
man and the shepherd are be-
come soldiers themselves, and
help to ravage the soil they
formerly occupied. The towns
are inhabited only by old
men, women and children;
perhaps here and there a war-
rior, by wounds and loss of
limbs, rendered unfit for ser-
vice, left at his door; his little
children hang round him, ask
a history of every wound, and
grow themselves soldiers be-
fore they find strength for the
field. But this were nothing,
did we not feel the alternate
insolence of either army, as
it happens to advance or re-
treat. It is impossible to
express the confusion, even
those who call themselves our
friends create. Even those
from whom we might expect
redress, oppress us with new
calamities. From your justice,
therefore, it is that we hope
? ? relief; to you even children
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? CHAP. vI. ]
181
WINTER-QUARTERS 1760-61.
Dec. 1760 --April 1761.
dru? ckungen und Drangsalen
abhelfen, irelche wider alle
Menschenliebe und wider alle
gute Kriegszucht streiten. Ich
It is remarked that this Young Lady, so amiably melodi- seems to be writing to the wind; and that she gives nothing
of fact or picture in regard to Mecklenburg, especially to
Mecklenburg-. S7reKfe, but what is taken from her own beauti-
ful young brain. All operatic, vague, imaginary, -- some of
it expressly untrue. * So that latterly there have been doubts
as to its authenticity altogether! ** And in fact the Piece
has a good deal the air of some School-Exercise, Model of
Letter-writing, Patriotic Aspiration or the like; -- thrown
off, shall we say, by the young Parson of Mirow (Charlotte's
late Tutor i, with Charlotte there to sign; or by some Patriotic
Schoolmaster elsewhere, anywhere, in a moment of en-
thusiasm, and without any Charlotte but a hypothetic one?
Certainly it is difficult to fancy how a modest, rational, practi-
cal young person like Charlotte can have thought of so airy a
feat of archery into the blue! Charlotte herself never dis-
avowed it, that I heard of; and to Colonel Grahame the Ex-
Jacobite, hunting about among potential Queens of England,
for behoof of Bute and of a certain Young King and King's
Mother, the Letter did seem abundantly unquestionable and
adorable. Perhaps authentic, after all; -- and certainly
small matter whether or not.
* In Mecklenburg-Scftwerin, which had always to smart sore for its
Duke and the line he took, the Swedes, this year, as usual (but, till Tor-
gau, with more hope than usual), had been trying for winter-quarters: and
had by the Prussians, as usual, been hunted out, -- Eugen of Wiirtemberg
speeding thither, directly after Torgau; Rostock his winter-quarters; --
who, doubtless with all rigour, is levying contributions for Prussian be-
hoof. But as to Mecklenburg-Strelitz, -- see, for example, in Schoning,
in. 30 &c, an indirect but altogether conclusive proof of the perfectly
amicable footing now and always subsisting there; Friedrich reluctant to intrude even with a small request or solicitation, on Eugen's behalf, at
this time.
** Boll, Geschichte Mecklenburgs mit besonderer Jierucksichtigung derCul-
turgeschichte (Neubrandenburg, 1858), n. 303-305;" -- cited by Giesebrecht,
who himself takes the opposite view.
bin Sfc. "
ous in tone, though
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? 182 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
25th April--19th Aug. 1761.
CHAPTER VII.
SIXTH CAMPAIGN OPENS: CAMP OF BUNZELWITZ.
To the outward observer, Friedrich stands well at
present, and seems again in formidable posture. After
two such Victories, and such almost miraculous recovery
of himself, who shall say what resistance he will not
yet make? In comparison with 1759 and its failures
and disasters, what a Year has 1760 been!
