It was July 15th, when Bussy, along with some-
thing in his own French sphere, presented this beauti-
ful Spanish Appendix, -- "apprehensive that War may
break out again with Spain, when we Two have got
settled.
thing in his own French sphere, presented this beauti-
ful Spanish Appendix, -- "apprehensive that War may
break out again with Spain, when we Two have got
settled.
Thomas Carlyle
235
5th Oct. -- 30th Nov. 1761.
"who witnessed the ghastly operation (Hussars in greatter-
"ror, in haste, and unconscionably greedy as to sharing); --
"after which our next news of him, the last of any clear
"authenticity, is this Note to his poor Wife, which was read in
"the Law Procedures on him six months hence: 'My Child
"(Mein Kind), -- The accursed thought I took up against my
"King has overwhelmed me in boundless misery. From the
"top of the highest hill I cannot see the limits of it. Farewell;
"I am in the farthest border of Turkey. -- WArkotsch. " ' *
Schmidt and he, after patient trial, were both of
them beheaded and quartered, -- in pasteboard effigy,
-- in the Salt Ring (Great Square) of Breslau, May
1762: -- in pasteboard, Friedrich liked it better than
the other way. "Meinetwegen" wrote he, sanctioning
the execution, "For aught I care; the Portraits will
likely be as worthless as the Originals," Rittmeister
Rabenau had got off with a few days' arrest, and the
remark, uEr ist ein dummer Teufel (You are a stupid
devil)! " Warkotsch's Estates, all and sundry, deduct-
ing the Baroness's jointure, which was punctually paid
her, were confiscated to the King, -- and by him were
made over to the Schools of Breslau and Glogau, which,
I doubt not, enjoy them to this day. Reverend Gerlach
in Schonbrunn, Kappel and Kappel's Bursch, were all
attended to, and properly rewarded, though there are
rumours to the contrary. Hussar-Colonel Wallis got
no public promotion, though it is not doubted the
Head People had been well cognisant of his ingenious
intentions. Official Vienna, like mankind in general,
shuddered to own him; the great Counts Wallis at
Vienna published in the Newspapers, "Our House has
no connexion with that gentleman;" -- and, in fact,
* Kiister, Lebens-Rettungen, p. 88: Kiister, p. 65-188 (for the general
Narrative); Tempelhof, v. 346, &c. &c.
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? 286 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Uth-lCth Doc. 1761.
he was of Irish breed, it seems, the name of him
WalVsch (or Walsh), if one cared. Warkotsch died at
Raab (this side the farthest corner of Turkey), in 1769:
his poor Baroness had vanished from Silesia five years
before, probably to join him. He had some pension
or aliment from the Austrian Court; small or not so
small is a disputed point.
And this is, more minutely than need have been,
in authentic form only too diffuse, the once world-
famous Warkotsch Tragedy or Wellnigh-Tragic Melo-
drama; which is still interesting and a matter of study,
of pathos and minute controversy, to the patriot and
antiquary in Prussian Countries, though here we might
have been briefer about it. It would, indeed, have
"finished the War at once;" and on terms delightful
to Austria and its Generals near by. But so would
any unit of the million balls and bullets which have
whistled round that same Royal Head, and have, every
unit of them, missed like Warkotsch! Particular
Heads, royal and other, meant for use in the scheme
of things, are not to be hit on any terms till the use
is had.
Friedrich settled in Breslau for the Winter, De-
cember 9th. From Colberg bad news meet him in
Breslau; bad and ever worse: Colberg, not Warkotsch,
is the interesting matter there, for a fortnight coming,
-- till Colberg end, it also irremediable. The Russian
hope on Colberg is, long since, limited to that of famine.
We said the conveyance of Supplies, across such a
Hundred Miles of wilderness, from Stettin thither, with
Russians and the Winter gainsaying, was the difficulty.
Our short Note continues:
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 237
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
"In fact, it is the impossibility: trial after trial goes on, in
"a strenuous manner, but without success. October 13th,
"Green Kleist tries; October 22d, Knobloch and even Platen
"try. For the next two months, there is trial on trial made
"(Hussar Kleist, Knobloch, Thadden, Platen), not without
"furious fencing, struggling; but with no success. There are,
"in wait at the proper places, 15,000 Russians waylaying.
"Winter comes early, and unusually severe: such marchings,
"such endeavourings and endurances, -- without success! "For darkness, cold, grim difficulty, fierce resistance to it,
"one reads few things like this of Colberg. 'The snow lies
"'ell-deep,' says Archenholtz; 'snow-tempests, sleet, frost:
"'a country wasted and hungered out; wants fuelwood;
'"has not even salt. The soldier's bread is a block of
"'ice; impracticable to human teeth till you thaw it, --
"'which is only possible by night. ' The Russian ships dis-
appear (17th October); November 2d, Butturlin, leaving
"reinforcements without stint, vanishes towards Poland. The
"day before Butturlin went, there had been solemn summons
"upon Eugen, 'Surrender honourably, we once more bid
'"you; never will we leave this ground, till Colberg is ours! '
"'Vain to propose it! ' answers Eugen, as before. The Rus-
sians too are clearly in great misery of want; though with
"better roads open for them; and Romanzow's obstinacy is
"extreme.
"Night of November 14th-15th, Eugen, his horse-fodder
"being entirely done, and Heyde's magazines worn almost
"out, is obliged to glide mysteriously, circuitously from his
"Camp, and go to try the task himself. The most difficult of
"marches, gloriously executed; which avails to deliver Eugen,
"and lightens the pressure on Heyde's small store. Eugen, in
"a way Tempelhoi cannot enough admire, gets clear away.
"Joins with Platen, collects Provision; tries to send Provision
"in, but withouteffect. By the King's order, is to try it himself
"in a collective form. Had Heyde food, he would care
"little.
"Romanzow, who is now in Eugen's old Camp, summons
"the Veteran; they say, it is 'for the twenty-fifth time,' -- not
"yet quite the last. Heyde consults his people: 'Kameraden,
"'what think you should I do? ' 'Thun Sie's durchaus nicht,
"' Herr Obrist, Do not a whit of it, Herr Colonel: we will de-
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? 238
FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
"'fend ourselves as long as we have bread and powder. ' * It
"is grim frost; Heyde pours water on his walls. Eomanzow
"tries storm; the walls are glass; the garrison has powder,
'' though on half rations as to bread: storm is of no effect. By
"has again a march of the most consummate kind; December
"12th, gets to the Russian entrenchment; storms aRussian re-
"doubt, and fights inexpressibly; but it will not do. With-
"draws; leaves Colberg to its fate. Next morning, Heyde
"gets his twenty-sixth summons; reflects on it two days; and
"then (December 16th), his biscuit done, decides to 'march
"out, with music playing, arms shouldered, and the honours
"of war. '** Adieu to the old Hero; who, we hope, will not
stay long in Russian prison.
"What a Place of Arms for us! " thinks Romanzow;
-- "though, indeed, for Campaign 1762, at this late
time of year, it will not so much avail us. " No; --
and for 1763, who knows if you will need it then!
Six weeks ago, Prince Henri and Daun had finished
their Saxon Campaign in a much more harmless man-
ner. November bth, Daun, after infinite rallying,
marshalling, re-arranging, and counselling with Loudon,
who has sat so long quiescent on the Heights at Kunzen-
dorf, ready to aid and reinforce, did at length (nothing
of "rashness" chargeable on Daun) make "a general
attack on Prince Henri's outposts," in the Meissen or
Mulda-Elbe Country, "from Rosswein all across to
Siebeneichen;" simultaneous attack, 15 miles wide, or
I know not how wide, but done with vigour; and, after
a stiff struggle in the small way, drove them all in; --
* Seyfarth, in. 28; Archenholtz, n. 304.
** Tempelhof, v. 351-377; Archenholtz, n. 294-307; especially the Sey farth Bcylagen above cited.
December 6th, starts;
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 239
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
in, all of them, more or less; -- and then did nothing
farther whatever. Henri had to contract his quarters,
and stand alertly on his guard: but nothing came.
"Shall have to winter in straiter quarters, behind
the Mulda, not astride of it as formerly; that is all. "
And so the Campaign in Saxony had ended, "without,
"in the whole course of it" (say the Books), "either
"party gaining any essential advantage over the
"other. "*
* Seyfarth, m. 54; Tempelhof, v. 275 et seq. (ibid. pp. 263-280 for the
Campaign at large, in all breadth of detail).
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? 240
FEIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 17C1. --July 1762.
CHAPTER X.
FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU; HAS NEWS FROM PETERSBURG.
Since December 9th, Friedrich is in Breslau, in
some remainder of his ruined Palace there; and is re-
presented to us, in Books, as sitting amid ruins; no
prospect ahead of him but ruin. Withdrawn from So-
ciety; looking fixedly on the gloomiest future. Sees
hardly anybody; speaks, except it be on business,
nothing. "One day," I have read somewhere, "General
"Lentulus dined with him; and there was not a word
"uttered at all. " The Anecdote-Books have Dialogues
withZiethen; Ziethen still trusting in Divine Providence;
King trusting only in the iron Destinies, and the stern
refuge of Death with honour: Dialogues evidently sym-
bolical only. In fact, this is not, or is not altogether,
the King's common humour. He has his two Nephews
with him (the elder, old enough to learn soldiering, is
to be of next Campaign under him); he is not without
society when he likes, -- never without employment
whether he like or not; and in the blackest murk of
despondencies has his Turk and other Illusions, which
seem to be brighter this Year than ever. * .
For certain, the King is making all preparation, as
if victory might still crown him: though of practical
hope he, doubtless often enough, has little or none.
England seems about deserting him; a most sad and
unexpected change has befallen there: great Pitt thrown
* Letters to Henri: in Schdning, m. (sayriiis).
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? CHAP. X. ]" FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU. 241
Oct. 1761 -- July 1762.
out; perverse small Butes come in, whose notions and
procedures differ far from Pitt's! At home here, the
Russians are in Pommern and the Neumark; Austrians
have Saxony, all but a poor strip beyond the Mulda;
Silesia, all but a fraction on the Oder: Friedrich has
with himself 30,000; with Prince Henri 25,000; under
Eugen of Wiirtemberg, against the Swedes, 5,000; in
all his Dominions, 60,000 fighting men. To make head
against so many enemies, he calculates that 60,000
more must be raised this Winter. And where are these
to come from; England and its help having also fallen
into such dubiety? Next Year, it is calculated by
everybody, Friedrich himself hardly excepted (in bad
moments), must be the finis of this long agonistic tra-
gedy. On the other hand, Austria herself is in sore
difficulties as to cash; discharges 20,000 men,--' trust-
ing she may have enough besides, to finish Friedrich.
France is bankrupt, starving, passionate for Peace;
English Bute nothing like so ill to treat with as Pitt:
to Austria no more subsidies from France. The War
is waxing feeble, not on Friedrich's side only, like a
flame short of fuel. This Year it must go out; Austria
will have to kill Friedrich this Year, if at all.
Whether Austria's and the world's prophecy would
have been fulfilled? Nobody can say what miraculous
sudden shifts, and outbursts of fiery enterprise, may
still lie in this man. Friedrich is difficult to kill, grows
terribly elastic when you compress him into a corner.
Or Destiny, perhaps, may have tried him sufficiently;
and be satisfied? Destiny does send him a wonderful
star-of-day, bursting out on the sudden, as will be
seen! -- Meanwhile here is the English calamity; worse
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. XII. 16
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? 242 FRIBDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 1761 --July 1762.
than any Schweidnitz, Colberg, or other that has be-
fallen in this blackest of the night.
The Pitt Catastrophe: how the Peace-Negotiation went off by Explosion; how Pitt withdrew (3d October 1761),
and there came a Spanish War nevertheless.
In St. James's Street, "in the Duke of Cumber-
land's late lodgings," on the 2d of October 1761, there
was held one of the most remarkable Cabinet-Councils
known in English History: it is the last of Pitt's
Cabinet-Councils, for a long time, -- might as well
have been his last of all; -- and is of the highest im-
portance to Friedrich through Pitt. We spoke of the
Choiseul Peace-Negotiation; of an offer indirectly from
King Carlos, "Could not I mediate a little? " -- offer
which exploded said Negotiation, and produced the
Bourbon Family Compact and an additional War in-
stead. Let us now look, slightly for a few moments,
into that matter and its sequences.
It was July 15th, when Bussy, along with some-
thing in his own French sphere, presented this beauti-
ful Spanish Appendix, -- "apprehensive that War may
break out again with Spain, when we Two have got
settled. " By the same opportunity came a Note from
him, which was reckoned important too: "That the
Empress Queen would and did, whatever might become
of the Congress of Augsburg, approve of this Separate
Peace between France and England, -- England merely
undertaking to leave the King of Prussia altogether to
himself in future with her Imperial Majesty and her
Allies. " "Never, Sir! " answered Pitt, with emphasis,
to this latter Proposition; and to the former about Spain's
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? CHAP. X. ] FRIEDHICH IN BRESLAU. 243
Oct. 1761 --July 1762.
interfering, or whispering of interference, he answered
-- by at once returning the Paper, as a thing non-
extant, or which it was charitable to consider so. "To-
tally inadmissible, Sir; mention it no more! " -- and
at once called upon the Spanish Ambassador to disavow
such impertinence imputed to his Master. Fancy the
colloquies, the agitated consultations thereupon, between
Bussy and this Don, in view suddenly of breakers
ahead!
In about a week (July 23d), Bussy had an Inter-
view with Pitt himself on this high Spanish matter;
and got some utterances out of him which are memor-
able to Bussy and us. "It is my duty to declare to
"you, Sir, in the name of his Majesty," said Pitt,
"that his Majesty will not suffer the disputes with Spain
"to be blended, in any manner whatever, in the Nego-
tiation of Peace between the Two Crowns. To which
"I must add, that it will be considered as an affront
"to his Majesty's dignity, and as a thing incompatible
"with the sincerity of the Negotiation, to make further
"mention of such a circumstance. "* Bussy did not go
at once, after this deliverance; but was unable, by his
arguments and pleadings, by all his oil and fire joined
together, to produce the least improvement on it:
"Time enough to treat of all that, Sir, when the Tower
"of London is taken sword in hand! "** was Pitt's last
word. An expression which went over the world; and
went especially to King Carlos, as fast as it could fly,
or as his Choiseul could speed it: and, in about three
* In Thackeray, n. 554; -- Pitt next day putting it in writing, "word
for word," at Bussy's request.
** Beatson, u. 434. Archenholtz (n. 245) has heard of this expression,
in a slightly incorrect way.
16*
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? 244 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 1761 -- July 1762.
weeks, produced, -- it and what had gone before it,
by the united industry of Choiseul and Carlos, finally
produced, -- the famed Bourbon Family Compact (August
15th, 1761), and a variety of other weighty results,
which lay in embryo therein.
Pitt, in the interim, had been intensely prosecuting,
in Spain and everywhere, his inquiry into the Bussy
phenomenon of July 15th; which he, from the first
glimpse of it, took to mean a mystery of treachery in
the pretended Peace-Negotiation, on the part of Choi-
seul and Catholic Majesty; -- though other long heads,
and Pitt's Ambassador at Madrid investigating on the
spot, considered it an inadvertence mainly, and of no
practical meaning. On getting knowledge of the Bour-
bon Family Compact, Pitt perceived that his suspicion
was a certainty; --and likewise that the one clear course
was, To declare War on the Spanish Bourbon too, and go
into him at once: "We are ready; fleets, soldiers, in the
East, in the West; he not ready anywhere. Since he
wants War, let him have it, without loss of a moment! "
That is Pitt's clear view of the case; but it is by no
means Bute and Company's, -- who discern in it,
rather, a means of finishing another operation they have
long been secretly busy upon, by their Mauduits and
otherwise; and are clear against getting into a new
War with Spain or anybody: "Have not we enough of
Wars? " say they.
Since September 18th, there had been three Cabinet-
Councils held on this great Spanish question: "Mystery
of treachery, meaning War from Spain? Or awkward
Inadvertence only, practically meaning little or nothing? "
Pitt, surer of his course every time, every time meets the
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? CHAP. X. ] FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU. 245
Oct. 1761 -- July 1762.
same contradiction. Council of October 2d was the
third of the series, and proved to be the last.
"Twelve Seventy-fours sent instantly to Cadiz,"
had been Pitt's proposal, on the first emergence of the
Bussy phenomenon. Here are his words, October 2d,
when it is about to get consummated: "This is now the
"time for humbling the whole House of Bourbon: and
"if this opportunity is let slip, we shall never find an-
"other! Their united power, if suffered to gather
"strength, will baffle our most vigorous efforts, and
"possibly plunge us in the gulf of ruin. We must not
"allow them a moment to breathe. Self-preservation
"bids us crush them before they can combine or re-
collect themselves. " -- "No evidence that Spain
"means war; too many wars on our hands; let us at
"least wait! " urge all the others, -- all but one, or
one and a half, of whom presently. Whereupon Pitt:
"If these views are to be followed, this is the last time
"I can sit at this Board. I was called to the Adminis-
tration of Affairs by the voice of the People: to them
"I have always considered myself as accountable for
"my conduct; and therefore cannot remain in a situation
"which makes me responsible for measures I am no
"longer allowed to guide. "* ,
Carteret Granville, President of said Council for
ten years past,** now an old red-nosed man of seventy-
two, snappishly took him up, -- it is the last public
thing poor Carteret did in this world,-- in the follow-
ing terms: "I find the Gentleman is determined to leave
"us; nor can I say I am sorry for it, since otherwise
"he would have certainly compelled us to leave him. "
* Beatson, n. 438. ** Came in, "17th Jane 1751," -- died, "2d January 1763. "
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? 246 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 1761 -- July 1762.
(Has ruled us, may not I say, with a rod of iron! )
"But if he be resolved to assume the office of exclu-
"sively advising his Majesty and directing the operations
"of the War, to what purpose are we called to this
"Council? When he talks of being responsible to the
"People, he talks the language of the House of Com-
"mons; forgets that, at this Board, he is only responsible
"to the King. However, though he may possibly have
"convinced himself of his infallibility, still it remains
"that we should be equally convinced, before we can
"resign our understandings to his direction, or join with
"him in the measure he proposes. "*
Who, besides Temple (Pitt's Brother-in-law) con-
firmatory of Pitt, Bute negatory, and Newcastle silent,
the other beautiful gentlemen were, I will not ask; but
poor old Carteret, -- the wine perhaps sour on his sto-
mach (old age too, with German memories of his own,
"A biggish Life once mine, all futile for want of this
"same Kingship like Pitt's! ") -- I am sorry old Carteret
should have ended so! He made the above Answer;
and Pitt resigned next day. ** "The Nation was tbun-
"derstruck, alarmed and indignant," says Walpole:***
yes, no wonder; -- but, except a great deal of noisy
jargoning in Parliament and out of it, the Nation
gained nothing for itself by its indignant, thunder-
stricken, and other feelings. Its Pitt is irrecoverable;
and it may long look for another such. These beautiful
recalcitrants of the Cabinet-Council had, themselves,
* Biog. Britannica (Kippis's; London, 1784), in. 278. See Thackeray,
i. 589-592.
** Thackeray, i. 592 n. "October 5th" (acceptance of the resignation, I
suppose? ) is the date commonly given.
*** Memoirs of the Reign of George the Third, I. 82 et seq.
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? CHAP. X. ] FRIEDEICH IN BRBSLAU. 247
Oct. 1761 --July 1762.
within three months (think under what noises and
hootings from a non-admiring Nation), to declare War
on Spain,* not on better terms than when Pitt advised;
and, except for the "readiness" in which Pitt had left
all things, might have fared indifferently in it.
To Spain and France, the results of the Family Compact (we may as well give them at once, though
they extend over the whole next year and farther, and
concern Friedrich very little) were: a War on England
(chiefly on poor Portugal for England's sake); with a
War by England in return, which cost Spain its Ha-
vanah and its Philippine Islands.
"From 1760 and before, the Spanish Carlos, his orthodox
"mind perhaps shocked at Pombal and the Anti-Jesuit pro-
cedures, had forbidden trade with Portugal; had been
"drawing out dangerous 'militia forces on the Frontier;'
"and afflicting ana frightening the poor Country. But on
"the actual arrival of War with England, Choiseul and he,
"as the first feasibility discernible, make Demand (three
"times over, 16th March -- 18th April 1762, each time more
"stringently) on poor Portuguese Majesty: 'Give up your
"objectionable Heretic Ally, and join with us against him;
"will you, or will you not? ' To which the Portuguese
"Majesty, whose very title is Most Faithful, answered al-
"ways: 'You surprise me! I cannot; how can 1? He is
"my Ally, and has always kept faith with me! For certain,
"No! '** So that there is English reinforcement got ready,
"men, money; an English General, Lord Tyrawley, General
"and Ambassador; with a 5 or 6,000 horse and foot, and
"many volunteer officers besides, for the Portuguese be-
'' hoof. *** In short, every encouragement to poor Portugal:
"' Pull, and we will help you by tracing. '
* "2d January 1762'' the English; "18th January," the Spaniard (An-
nual Register for 1762, p. 50; or better, Beatson, rI. 443).
** London Gazette, 5th May 1762, &e. (in Gentleman's Magazine for 1762,
IxxII. 205, 321, 411).
List of all this in Beatson, iI. 491, in. 323; -- "did not get to sea till
12th May 1762" (Gentleman's Magazine for 1762, p. 239).
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? 248 FEIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVEliWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 1761 -July 1762.
"The poor Portuguese pulled very badly: were disgust-
"ing to Tyrawley, he to them; and cried passionately, 'Get
"us another General;' -- upon which, by some wise person's
"counsel, that singular Artillery Gentleman, the Graf von
"der Lippe Biickeburg, who gave the dinner in his Tent with
"cannon firing at the pole of it, was appointed; and Tyrawley
"came home in a huff. * Which was probably a favour-
able circumstance. Biickeburg understands War, whether
"Tyrawley do or not. Duke Ferdinand has agreed to dis-
pense with his Ordnance-Master; nay I have heard the
"Ordnance-Master, a man of sharp speech on occasion, was
"as good as idle; and had gone home to Biickeburg, this
"Winter: indignant at the many imperfections he saw, and
"perhaps too frankly expressing that feeling now and then.
"What he thought of the Portuguese Army in comparison is
"not on record; but may be judged of by this circumstance,
"That on dining with the chief Portuguese military man, he
"found his Portuguese captains and lieutenants waiting as
"valets behind the chairs. **
"The improvements he made are said to have been many;
"-- and Portuguese Majesty, in bidding farewell, gave him a
"park of Miniature Gold Cannon by way of gracious symbol.
"But, so far as the facts show, he seems to have got from his
"Portuguese Army next to no service whatever: and, but for
"the English and the ill weather, would have fared badly
"against his French and Spaniards, -- 42,000 of them, ad-
vancing in Three Divisions, by theDouro and the Tagus,
"against Oporto and Lisbon.
"His War has only these three dates of event. 1? . May 9th,
"The northmost of the Three Divisions*** crosses the Portu-
"guese Frontier on the Douro; summons Miranda, a chief
"Town of theirs; takes it, before their first battery is built;
"takes Braganza, takes Monte Corvo; and within a week is
"master of the Douro, in that part. 'Will be at Oporto
"directly! ' shriek all the Wine people (no resistance any-
"where, except by peasants organised by English Officers in
"some parts); upon which Seventy-fours were sent.
* Varnhagen von Ense, Graf Wilhelm zur Lippe (Berlin, 1845), in
Vermischte Schriflen, i. 1-118: pp. 33-54, his Portuguese operations.
** Varnhagen (gives no date anywhere).
*** Annual Register lor 1762, p. 30.
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? CHAP. X. ] FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU. 249
Oct. 1761 --July 1762.
"2? . Division Second of the 42,000 came byBeiraCountry,
"between Tagus and Douro, by Tras-os-Montes; and laid
"siege to a place called Almeida" (north-west some 20 odd
miles from Ciudad Rodrigo, a name once known to veterans
of us still living), "which Biickeburg had tried to repair into
"strength, and furnish with a garrison. Garrison defended
"itself well; but could not be relieved;-- had to surrender,
"August 25th: whereby it seems the Tagus is now theirs!
"All the more, as Division Three is likewise got across from
"Estremadura, invading Alemtejo: what is to keep these
"Two from falling on Lisbon together?
"3? . Against this, Biickeburg does find a recipe. De-
"snatches Brigadier Burgoyne with an English party upon a
"Town called Valencia d'Alcantara" (not Alcantara Proper,
but Valencia of ditto, not very far from Badajoz), "where the
"vanguard of this Third Division is, and their principal
"Magazine. Burgoyne and his English did perfectly: broke
"into the place, stormed it sword in hand (August 27th);
"kept the Magazine and it, though 'the sixteen Portuguese
"Battalions' could not possibly get up in time. In manner
"following (say the Old Newspapers):
"' The garrison of Almeida, before which place the whole
? "Spanish Army had been assembled, surrendered to the
'"Spaniards on the 25th' (August 25th, as we have just
"heard), 'having capitulated on condition of not serving
"' against Spain for six months.
'"As a counterbalance to this advantage, the Count de
"'Lippe caused Valencia d'Alcantara to be attacked, sword-
"'in-hand, by the British troops; who carried it, after an
"'obstinate resistance.
5th Oct. -- 30th Nov. 1761.
"who witnessed the ghastly operation (Hussars in greatter-
"ror, in haste, and unconscionably greedy as to sharing); --
"after which our next news of him, the last of any clear
"authenticity, is this Note to his poor Wife, which was read in
"the Law Procedures on him six months hence: 'My Child
"(Mein Kind), -- The accursed thought I took up against my
"King has overwhelmed me in boundless misery. From the
"top of the highest hill I cannot see the limits of it. Farewell;
"I am in the farthest border of Turkey. -- WArkotsch. " ' *
Schmidt and he, after patient trial, were both of
them beheaded and quartered, -- in pasteboard effigy,
-- in the Salt Ring (Great Square) of Breslau, May
1762: -- in pasteboard, Friedrich liked it better than
the other way. "Meinetwegen" wrote he, sanctioning
the execution, "For aught I care; the Portraits will
likely be as worthless as the Originals," Rittmeister
Rabenau had got off with a few days' arrest, and the
remark, uEr ist ein dummer Teufel (You are a stupid
devil)! " Warkotsch's Estates, all and sundry, deduct-
ing the Baroness's jointure, which was punctually paid
her, were confiscated to the King, -- and by him were
made over to the Schools of Breslau and Glogau, which,
I doubt not, enjoy them to this day. Reverend Gerlach
in Schonbrunn, Kappel and Kappel's Bursch, were all
attended to, and properly rewarded, though there are
rumours to the contrary. Hussar-Colonel Wallis got
no public promotion, though it is not doubted the
Head People had been well cognisant of his ingenious
intentions. Official Vienna, like mankind in general,
shuddered to own him; the great Counts Wallis at
Vienna published in the Newspapers, "Our House has
no connexion with that gentleman;" -- and, in fact,
* Kiister, Lebens-Rettungen, p. 88: Kiister, p. 65-188 (for the general
Narrative); Tempelhof, v. 346, &c. &c.
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? 286 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Uth-lCth Doc. 1761.
he was of Irish breed, it seems, the name of him
WalVsch (or Walsh), if one cared. Warkotsch died at
Raab (this side the farthest corner of Turkey), in 1769:
his poor Baroness had vanished from Silesia five years
before, probably to join him. He had some pension
or aliment from the Austrian Court; small or not so
small is a disputed point.
And this is, more minutely than need have been,
in authentic form only too diffuse, the once world-
famous Warkotsch Tragedy or Wellnigh-Tragic Melo-
drama; which is still interesting and a matter of study,
of pathos and minute controversy, to the patriot and
antiquary in Prussian Countries, though here we might
have been briefer about it. It would, indeed, have
"finished the War at once;" and on terms delightful
to Austria and its Generals near by. But so would
any unit of the million balls and bullets which have
whistled round that same Royal Head, and have, every
unit of them, missed like Warkotsch! Particular
Heads, royal and other, meant for use in the scheme
of things, are not to be hit on any terms till the use
is had.
Friedrich settled in Breslau for the Winter, De-
cember 9th. From Colberg bad news meet him in
Breslau; bad and ever worse: Colberg, not Warkotsch,
is the interesting matter there, for a fortnight coming,
-- till Colberg end, it also irremediable. The Russian
hope on Colberg is, long since, limited to that of famine.
We said the conveyance of Supplies, across such a
Hundred Miles of wilderness, from Stettin thither, with
Russians and the Winter gainsaying, was the difficulty.
Our short Note continues:
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 237
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
"In fact, it is the impossibility: trial after trial goes on, in
"a strenuous manner, but without success. October 13th,
"Green Kleist tries; October 22d, Knobloch and even Platen
"try. For the next two months, there is trial on trial made
"(Hussar Kleist, Knobloch, Thadden, Platen), not without
"furious fencing, struggling; but with no success. There are,
"in wait at the proper places, 15,000 Russians waylaying.
"Winter comes early, and unusually severe: such marchings,
"such endeavourings and endurances, -- without success! "For darkness, cold, grim difficulty, fierce resistance to it,
"one reads few things like this of Colberg. 'The snow lies
"'ell-deep,' says Archenholtz; 'snow-tempests, sleet, frost:
"'a country wasted and hungered out; wants fuelwood;
'"has not even salt. The soldier's bread is a block of
"'ice; impracticable to human teeth till you thaw it, --
"'which is only possible by night. ' The Russian ships dis-
appear (17th October); November 2d, Butturlin, leaving
"reinforcements without stint, vanishes towards Poland. The
"day before Butturlin went, there had been solemn summons
"upon Eugen, 'Surrender honourably, we once more bid
'"you; never will we leave this ground, till Colberg is ours! '
"'Vain to propose it! ' answers Eugen, as before. The Rus-
sians too are clearly in great misery of want; though with
"better roads open for them; and Romanzow's obstinacy is
"extreme.
"Night of November 14th-15th, Eugen, his horse-fodder
"being entirely done, and Heyde's magazines worn almost
"out, is obliged to glide mysteriously, circuitously from his
"Camp, and go to try the task himself. The most difficult of
"marches, gloriously executed; which avails to deliver Eugen,
"and lightens the pressure on Heyde's small store. Eugen, in
"a way Tempelhoi cannot enough admire, gets clear away.
"Joins with Platen, collects Provision; tries to send Provision
"in, but withouteffect. By the King's order, is to try it himself
"in a collective form. Had Heyde food, he would care
"little.
"Romanzow, who is now in Eugen's old Camp, summons
"the Veteran; they say, it is 'for the twenty-fifth time,' -- not
"yet quite the last. Heyde consults his people: 'Kameraden,
"'what think you should I do? ' 'Thun Sie's durchaus nicht,
"' Herr Obrist, Do not a whit of it, Herr Colonel: we will de-
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? 238
FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
"'fend ourselves as long as we have bread and powder. ' * It
"is grim frost; Heyde pours water on his walls. Eomanzow
"tries storm; the walls are glass; the garrison has powder,
'' though on half rations as to bread: storm is of no effect. By
"has again a march of the most consummate kind; December
"12th, gets to the Russian entrenchment; storms aRussian re-
"doubt, and fights inexpressibly; but it will not do. With-
"draws; leaves Colberg to its fate. Next morning, Heyde
"gets his twenty-sixth summons; reflects on it two days; and
"then (December 16th), his biscuit done, decides to 'march
"out, with music playing, arms shouldered, and the honours
"of war. '** Adieu to the old Hero; who, we hope, will not
stay long in Russian prison.
"What a Place of Arms for us! " thinks Romanzow;
-- "though, indeed, for Campaign 1762, at this late
time of year, it will not so much avail us. " No; --
and for 1763, who knows if you will need it then!
Six weeks ago, Prince Henri and Daun had finished
their Saxon Campaign in a much more harmless man-
ner. November bth, Daun, after infinite rallying,
marshalling, re-arranging, and counselling with Loudon,
who has sat so long quiescent on the Heights at Kunzen-
dorf, ready to aid and reinforce, did at length (nothing
of "rashness" chargeable on Daun) make "a general
attack on Prince Henri's outposts," in the Meissen or
Mulda-Elbe Country, "from Rosswein all across to
Siebeneichen;" simultaneous attack, 15 miles wide, or
I know not how wide, but done with vigour; and, after
a stiff struggle in the small way, drove them all in; --
* Seyfarth, in. 28; Archenholtz, n. 304.
** Tempelhof, v. 351-377; Archenholtz, n. 294-307; especially the Sey farth Bcylagen above cited.
December 6th, starts;
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? CHAP. IX. ] TRAITOR WARKOTSCH. 239
9th-16th Dec. 1761.
in, all of them, more or less; -- and then did nothing
farther whatever. Henri had to contract his quarters,
and stand alertly on his guard: but nothing came.
"Shall have to winter in straiter quarters, behind
the Mulda, not astride of it as formerly; that is all. "
And so the Campaign in Saxony had ended, "without,
"in the whole course of it" (say the Books), "either
"party gaining any essential advantage over the
"other. "*
* Seyfarth, m. 54; Tempelhof, v. 275 et seq. (ibid. pp. 263-280 for the
Campaign at large, in all breadth of detail).
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? 240
FEIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 17C1. --July 1762.
CHAPTER X.
FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU; HAS NEWS FROM PETERSBURG.
Since December 9th, Friedrich is in Breslau, in
some remainder of his ruined Palace there; and is re-
presented to us, in Books, as sitting amid ruins; no
prospect ahead of him but ruin. Withdrawn from So-
ciety; looking fixedly on the gloomiest future. Sees
hardly anybody; speaks, except it be on business,
nothing. "One day," I have read somewhere, "General
"Lentulus dined with him; and there was not a word
"uttered at all. " The Anecdote-Books have Dialogues
withZiethen; Ziethen still trusting in Divine Providence;
King trusting only in the iron Destinies, and the stern
refuge of Death with honour: Dialogues evidently sym-
bolical only. In fact, this is not, or is not altogether,
the King's common humour. He has his two Nephews
with him (the elder, old enough to learn soldiering, is
to be of next Campaign under him); he is not without
society when he likes, -- never without employment
whether he like or not; and in the blackest murk of
despondencies has his Turk and other Illusions, which
seem to be brighter this Year than ever. * .
For certain, the King is making all preparation, as
if victory might still crown him: though of practical
hope he, doubtless often enough, has little or none.
England seems about deserting him; a most sad and
unexpected change has befallen there: great Pitt thrown
* Letters to Henri: in Schdning, m. (sayriiis).
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? CHAP. X. ]" FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU. 241
Oct. 1761 -- July 1762.
out; perverse small Butes come in, whose notions and
procedures differ far from Pitt's! At home here, the
Russians are in Pommern and the Neumark; Austrians
have Saxony, all but a poor strip beyond the Mulda;
Silesia, all but a fraction on the Oder: Friedrich has
with himself 30,000; with Prince Henri 25,000; under
Eugen of Wiirtemberg, against the Swedes, 5,000; in
all his Dominions, 60,000 fighting men. To make head
against so many enemies, he calculates that 60,000
more must be raised this Winter. And where are these
to come from; England and its help having also fallen
into such dubiety? Next Year, it is calculated by
everybody, Friedrich himself hardly excepted (in bad
moments), must be the finis of this long agonistic tra-
gedy. On the other hand, Austria herself is in sore
difficulties as to cash; discharges 20,000 men,--' trust-
ing she may have enough besides, to finish Friedrich.
France is bankrupt, starving, passionate for Peace;
English Bute nothing like so ill to treat with as Pitt:
to Austria no more subsidies from France. The War
is waxing feeble, not on Friedrich's side only, like a
flame short of fuel. This Year it must go out; Austria
will have to kill Friedrich this Year, if at all.
Whether Austria's and the world's prophecy would
have been fulfilled? Nobody can say what miraculous
sudden shifts, and outbursts of fiery enterprise, may
still lie in this man. Friedrich is difficult to kill, grows
terribly elastic when you compress him into a corner.
Or Destiny, perhaps, may have tried him sufficiently;
and be satisfied? Destiny does send him a wonderful
star-of-day, bursting out on the sudden, as will be
seen! -- Meanwhile here is the English calamity; worse
Carlyle, Frederick the Great. XII. 16
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? 242 FRIBDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 1761 --July 1762.
than any Schweidnitz, Colberg, or other that has be-
fallen in this blackest of the night.
The Pitt Catastrophe: how the Peace-Negotiation went off by Explosion; how Pitt withdrew (3d October 1761),
and there came a Spanish War nevertheless.
In St. James's Street, "in the Duke of Cumber-
land's late lodgings," on the 2d of October 1761, there
was held one of the most remarkable Cabinet-Councils
known in English History: it is the last of Pitt's
Cabinet-Councils, for a long time, -- might as well
have been his last of all; -- and is of the highest im-
portance to Friedrich through Pitt. We spoke of the
Choiseul Peace-Negotiation; of an offer indirectly from
King Carlos, "Could not I mediate a little? " -- offer
which exploded said Negotiation, and produced the
Bourbon Family Compact and an additional War in-
stead. Let us now look, slightly for a few moments,
into that matter and its sequences.
It was July 15th, when Bussy, along with some-
thing in his own French sphere, presented this beauti-
ful Spanish Appendix, -- "apprehensive that War may
break out again with Spain, when we Two have got
settled. " By the same opportunity came a Note from
him, which was reckoned important too: "That the
Empress Queen would and did, whatever might become
of the Congress of Augsburg, approve of this Separate
Peace between France and England, -- England merely
undertaking to leave the King of Prussia altogether to
himself in future with her Imperial Majesty and her
Allies. " "Never, Sir! " answered Pitt, with emphasis,
to this latter Proposition; and to the former about Spain's
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? CHAP. X. ] FRIEDHICH IN BRESLAU. 243
Oct. 1761 --July 1762.
interfering, or whispering of interference, he answered
-- by at once returning the Paper, as a thing non-
extant, or which it was charitable to consider so. "To-
tally inadmissible, Sir; mention it no more! " -- and
at once called upon the Spanish Ambassador to disavow
such impertinence imputed to his Master. Fancy the
colloquies, the agitated consultations thereupon, between
Bussy and this Don, in view suddenly of breakers
ahead!
In about a week (July 23d), Bussy had an Inter-
view with Pitt himself on this high Spanish matter;
and got some utterances out of him which are memor-
able to Bussy and us. "It is my duty to declare to
"you, Sir, in the name of his Majesty," said Pitt,
"that his Majesty will not suffer the disputes with Spain
"to be blended, in any manner whatever, in the Nego-
tiation of Peace between the Two Crowns. To which
"I must add, that it will be considered as an affront
"to his Majesty's dignity, and as a thing incompatible
"with the sincerity of the Negotiation, to make further
"mention of such a circumstance. "* Bussy did not go
at once, after this deliverance; but was unable, by his
arguments and pleadings, by all his oil and fire joined
together, to produce the least improvement on it:
"Time enough to treat of all that, Sir, when the Tower
"of London is taken sword in hand! "** was Pitt's last
word. An expression which went over the world; and
went especially to King Carlos, as fast as it could fly,
or as his Choiseul could speed it: and, in about three
* In Thackeray, n. 554; -- Pitt next day putting it in writing, "word
for word," at Bussy's request.
** Beatson, u. 434. Archenholtz (n. 245) has heard of this expression,
in a slightly incorrect way.
16*
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? 244 FRIEDEICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 1761 -- July 1762.
weeks, produced, -- it and what had gone before it,
by the united industry of Choiseul and Carlos, finally
produced, -- the famed Bourbon Family Compact (August
15th, 1761), and a variety of other weighty results,
which lay in embryo therein.
Pitt, in the interim, had been intensely prosecuting,
in Spain and everywhere, his inquiry into the Bussy
phenomenon of July 15th; which he, from the first
glimpse of it, took to mean a mystery of treachery in
the pretended Peace-Negotiation, on the part of Choi-
seul and Catholic Majesty; -- though other long heads,
and Pitt's Ambassador at Madrid investigating on the
spot, considered it an inadvertence mainly, and of no
practical meaning. On getting knowledge of the Bour-
bon Family Compact, Pitt perceived that his suspicion
was a certainty; --and likewise that the one clear course
was, To declare War on the Spanish Bourbon too, and go
into him at once: "We are ready; fleets, soldiers, in the
East, in the West; he not ready anywhere. Since he
wants War, let him have it, without loss of a moment! "
That is Pitt's clear view of the case; but it is by no
means Bute and Company's, -- who discern in it,
rather, a means of finishing another operation they have
long been secretly busy upon, by their Mauduits and
otherwise; and are clear against getting into a new
War with Spain or anybody: "Have not we enough of
Wars? " say they.
Since September 18th, there had been three Cabinet-
Councils held on this great Spanish question: "Mystery
of treachery, meaning War from Spain? Or awkward
Inadvertence only, practically meaning little or nothing? "
Pitt, surer of his course every time, every time meets the
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? CHAP. X. ] FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU. 245
Oct. 1761 -- July 1762.
same contradiction. Council of October 2d was the
third of the series, and proved to be the last.
"Twelve Seventy-fours sent instantly to Cadiz,"
had been Pitt's proposal, on the first emergence of the
Bussy phenomenon. Here are his words, October 2d,
when it is about to get consummated: "This is now the
"time for humbling the whole House of Bourbon: and
"if this opportunity is let slip, we shall never find an-
"other! Their united power, if suffered to gather
"strength, will baffle our most vigorous efforts, and
"possibly plunge us in the gulf of ruin. We must not
"allow them a moment to breathe. Self-preservation
"bids us crush them before they can combine or re-
collect themselves. " -- "No evidence that Spain
"means war; too many wars on our hands; let us at
"least wait! " urge all the others, -- all but one, or
one and a half, of whom presently. Whereupon Pitt:
"If these views are to be followed, this is the last time
"I can sit at this Board. I was called to the Adminis-
tration of Affairs by the voice of the People: to them
"I have always considered myself as accountable for
"my conduct; and therefore cannot remain in a situation
"which makes me responsible for measures I am no
"longer allowed to guide. "* ,
Carteret Granville, President of said Council for
ten years past,** now an old red-nosed man of seventy-
two, snappishly took him up, -- it is the last public
thing poor Carteret did in this world,-- in the follow-
ing terms: "I find the Gentleman is determined to leave
"us; nor can I say I am sorry for it, since otherwise
"he would have certainly compelled us to leave him. "
* Beatson, n. 438. ** Came in, "17th Jane 1751," -- died, "2d January 1763. "
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? 246 FRIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVERWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 1761 -- July 1762.
(Has ruled us, may not I say, with a rod of iron! )
"But if he be resolved to assume the office of exclu-
"sively advising his Majesty and directing the operations
"of the War, to what purpose are we called to this
"Council? When he talks of being responsible to the
"People, he talks the language of the House of Com-
"mons; forgets that, at this Board, he is only responsible
"to the King. However, though he may possibly have
"convinced himself of his infallibility, still it remains
"that we should be equally convinced, before we can
"resign our understandings to his direction, or join with
"him in the measure he proposes. "*
Who, besides Temple (Pitt's Brother-in-law) con-
firmatory of Pitt, Bute negatory, and Newcastle silent,
the other beautiful gentlemen were, I will not ask; but
poor old Carteret, -- the wine perhaps sour on his sto-
mach (old age too, with German memories of his own,
"A biggish Life once mine, all futile for want of this
"same Kingship like Pitt's! ") -- I am sorry old Carteret
should have ended so! He made the above Answer;
and Pitt resigned next day. ** "The Nation was tbun-
"derstruck, alarmed and indignant," says Walpole:***
yes, no wonder; -- but, except a great deal of noisy
jargoning in Parliament and out of it, the Nation
gained nothing for itself by its indignant, thunder-
stricken, and other feelings. Its Pitt is irrecoverable;
and it may long look for another such. These beautiful
recalcitrants of the Cabinet-Council had, themselves,
* Biog. Britannica (Kippis's; London, 1784), in. 278. See Thackeray,
i. 589-592.
** Thackeray, i. 592 n. "October 5th" (acceptance of the resignation, I
suppose? ) is the date commonly given.
*** Memoirs of the Reign of George the Third, I. 82 et seq.
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? CHAP. X. ] FRIEDEICH IN BRBSLAU. 247
Oct. 1761 --July 1762.
within three months (think under what noises and
hootings from a non-admiring Nation), to declare War
on Spain,* not on better terms than when Pitt advised;
and, except for the "readiness" in which Pitt had left
all things, might have fared indifferently in it.
To Spain and France, the results of the Family Compact (we may as well give them at once, though
they extend over the whole next year and farther, and
concern Friedrich very little) were: a War on England
(chiefly on poor Portugal for England's sake); with a
War by England in return, which cost Spain its Ha-
vanah and its Philippine Islands.
"From 1760 and before, the Spanish Carlos, his orthodox
"mind perhaps shocked at Pombal and the Anti-Jesuit pro-
cedures, had forbidden trade with Portugal; had been
"drawing out dangerous 'militia forces on the Frontier;'
"and afflicting ana frightening the poor Country. But on
"the actual arrival of War with England, Choiseul and he,
"as the first feasibility discernible, make Demand (three
"times over, 16th March -- 18th April 1762, each time more
"stringently) on poor Portuguese Majesty: 'Give up your
"objectionable Heretic Ally, and join with us against him;
"will you, or will you not? ' To which the Portuguese
"Majesty, whose very title is Most Faithful, answered al-
"ways: 'You surprise me! I cannot; how can 1? He is
"my Ally, and has always kept faith with me! For certain,
"No! '** So that there is English reinforcement got ready,
"men, money; an English General, Lord Tyrawley, General
"and Ambassador; with a 5 or 6,000 horse and foot, and
"many volunteer officers besides, for the Portuguese be-
'' hoof. *** In short, every encouragement to poor Portugal:
"' Pull, and we will help you by tracing. '
* "2d January 1762'' the English; "18th January," the Spaniard (An-
nual Register for 1762, p. 50; or better, Beatson, rI. 443).
** London Gazette, 5th May 1762, &e. (in Gentleman's Magazine for 1762,
IxxII. 205, 321, 411).
List of all this in Beatson, iI. 491, in. 323; -- "did not get to sea till
12th May 1762" (Gentleman's Magazine for 1762, p. 239).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 248 FEIEDRICH NOT TO BE OVEliWHELMED. [book XX.
Oct. 1761 -July 1762.
"The poor Portuguese pulled very badly: were disgust-
"ing to Tyrawley, he to them; and cried passionately, 'Get
"us another General;' -- upon which, by some wise person's
"counsel, that singular Artillery Gentleman, the Graf von
"der Lippe Biickeburg, who gave the dinner in his Tent with
"cannon firing at the pole of it, was appointed; and Tyrawley
"came home in a huff. * Which was probably a favour-
able circumstance. Biickeburg understands War, whether
"Tyrawley do or not. Duke Ferdinand has agreed to dis-
pense with his Ordnance-Master; nay I have heard the
"Ordnance-Master, a man of sharp speech on occasion, was
"as good as idle; and had gone home to Biickeburg, this
"Winter: indignant at the many imperfections he saw, and
"perhaps too frankly expressing that feeling now and then.
"What he thought of the Portuguese Army in comparison is
"not on record; but may be judged of by this circumstance,
"That on dining with the chief Portuguese military man, he
"found his Portuguese captains and lieutenants waiting as
"valets behind the chairs. **
"The improvements he made are said to have been many;
"-- and Portuguese Majesty, in bidding farewell, gave him a
"park of Miniature Gold Cannon by way of gracious symbol.
"But, so far as the facts show, he seems to have got from his
"Portuguese Army next to no service whatever: and, but for
"the English and the ill weather, would have fared badly
"against his French and Spaniards, -- 42,000 of them, ad-
vancing in Three Divisions, by theDouro and the Tagus,
"against Oporto and Lisbon.
"His War has only these three dates of event. 1? . May 9th,
"The northmost of the Three Divisions*** crosses the Portu-
"guese Frontier on the Douro; summons Miranda, a chief
"Town of theirs; takes it, before their first battery is built;
"takes Braganza, takes Monte Corvo; and within a week is
"master of the Douro, in that part. 'Will be at Oporto
"directly! ' shriek all the Wine people (no resistance any-
"where, except by peasants organised by English Officers in
"some parts); upon which Seventy-fours were sent.
* Varnhagen von Ense, Graf Wilhelm zur Lippe (Berlin, 1845), in
Vermischte Schriflen, i. 1-118: pp. 33-54, his Portuguese operations.
** Varnhagen (gives no date anywhere).
*** Annual Register lor 1762, p. 30.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:30 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hwiije Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. X. ] FRIEDRICH IN BRESLAU. 249
Oct. 1761 --July 1762.
"2? . Division Second of the 42,000 came byBeiraCountry,
"between Tagus and Douro, by Tras-os-Montes; and laid
"siege to a place called Almeida" (north-west some 20 odd
miles from Ciudad Rodrigo, a name once known to veterans
of us still living), "which Biickeburg had tried to repair into
"strength, and furnish with a garrison. Garrison defended
"itself well; but could not be relieved;-- had to surrender,
"August 25th: whereby it seems the Tagus is now theirs!
"All the more, as Division Three is likewise got across from
"Estremadura, invading Alemtejo: what is to keep these
"Two from falling on Lisbon together?
"3? . Against this, Biickeburg does find a recipe. De-
"snatches Brigadier Burgoyne with an English party upon a
"Town called Valencia d'Alcantara" (not Alcantara Proper,
but Valencia of ditto, not very far from Badajoz), "where the
"vanguard of this Third Division is, and their principal
"Magazine. Burgoyne and his English did perfectly: broke
"into the place, stormed it sword in hand (August 27th);
"kept the Magazine and it, though 'the sixteen Portuguese
"Battalions' could not possibly get up in time. In manner
"following (say the Old Newspapers):
"' The garrison of Almeida, before which place the whole
? "Spanish Army had been assembled, surrendered to the
'"Spaniards on the 25th' (August 25th, as we have just
"heard), 'having capitulated on condition of not serving
"' against Spain for six months.
'"As a counterbalance to this advantage, the Count de
"'Lippe caused Valencia d'Alcantara to be attacked, sword-
"'in-hand, by the British troops; who carried it, after an
"'obstinate resistance.
