Princess Ulrique was hardly yet home in Sweden,
when her Brother had actually gone forth upon the
"Wars again!
when her Brother had actually gone forth upon the
"Wars again!
Thomas Carlyle
OHAP.
VIII.
] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND.
351
Jan. --Aug. 1744.
styled; now in his thirty-third year; and at least
drawing the revenues of that See, though I think, not
ecclesiastically given, but living oftener in Hamburg,
the then fashionable resort of those Northern Grandees.
On the whole, a likely young gentleman; accepted by
parties concerned; -- and surely good enough for the
Office as it now is. Of whom, for a reason coming,
let readers take note, in this place.
Above a year before this time,* Czarina Elizabeth,
a provident female, and determined not to wed, had
pitched upon her own successor: one Karl Peter Ulrich;
who was also of the same Holstein-Gottorp set, though
with Eussian blood in him. His Grandfather was full
cousin, and chosen comrade, to Karl XII. ; got killed
in Karl's Russian "Wars; and left a poor Son dependent
on Eussian Peter the Great, -- who gave him one of
his Daughters; whence this Karl Peter Ulrich, an
orphan, dear to his Aunt the Czarina. A Karl Peter
Ulrich, who became tragically famous as Czar Peter
Federowitz, or Czar Peter III. , in the course of twenty
years! Hie Father and Mother are both dead; loving
Aunt has snatched the poor boy out of Holstein-Gottorp,
which is a narrow sphere, into Eussia, which is wide
enough; she has had him converted to the Greek
Church, named him Peter Federowitz, Heir and Suc-
cessor; -- and now, wishing to see him married, has
earnestly consulted Friedrich upon it.
Friedrich is decidedly interested; would grudge
much to see an Anti-Prussian Princess, for instance a
Saxon Princess (one of whom is said to be trying),
put into this important station! After a little thought,
he fixes, -- does the reader know upon whom? Eeaders
* 7th November 1742 (Michaelis, ii. 627).
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? 352 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [book XIV.
Jan. --Aug. 1744.
perhaps, here and there, have some recollection of a
Prussian General, who is Titular Prince of Anhalt-
Zerbst on his own score; and is actual Commandant
of Stettin in Friedrich's service, and has done a great
deal of good fortification there and other good work.
Instead of Titular, he has now lately, by decease of
an Elder Brother, become Actual or Semi-Actual (a
Brother joined with him in the poor Heirship); lives
occasionally in the Schloss of Zerbst; but is glad to
retain Stettin as a solid supplement. His Wife, let the
reader note farther, is Sister to the above-mentioned
Adolf Friedrich, "Bishop of Liibeek," now Heir-
Apparent to Sweden, -- in whom, as will soon appear,
we are otherwise interested. Wife seems to me an
airy flighty kind of lady, high-paced, not too sure-
paced, -- weak evidently in French grammar, and
perhaps in human sense withal: -- but they have a
Daughter, Sophie-Frederike, now near fifteen, and very
forward for her age; comely to look upon, wise to
listen to: "Is not she the suitable one? " thinks Fried-
rich, in regard to this matter. "Her kindred is of the
oldest, old as Albert the Bear; she has been frugally
brought up, Spartan-like, though as a Princess by
birth: let her cease skipping ropes on the ramparts
yonder, with her young Stettin playmates; and prepare
for being a Czarina of the Russias," thinks he. And
communicates his mind to the Czarina; who answers,
"Excellent! How did I never think of that myself? "
And so, on or about Newyear's day 1744, while
the Commandant of Stettin and his airy Spouse are
doing Christmas at their old Schloss of Zerbst, there
suddenly come Estafettes; Expresses from Petersburg,
heralded by Express from Friedrich: -- with the
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? CHAP. VIII. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 353
Jan. --Aug. 1744.
astonishing proposal, "Czarina wishing the honour of
a visit from Madame and Daughter; no doubt, with
such and such intensions in the rear. "* Madame, nor
Daughter, is nothing loth; -- the old Commandant
grumbles in his beard, not positively forbidding: and
in this manner, after a Letter or two in imperfect
grammar, Madame and Daughter appear in Carnival
society at Berlin, charming objects both; but do not
stay long; in fact, stay only till their moneys and
arrangements are furnished them. . Upon which, in all
silence, they make for Petersburg, for Moscow; travel
rapidly, arrive successfully, in spite of the grim season. **
Conversion to the Greek Religion, change of name
from Sophie-Frederike to Catherine-Alexiewna ("Let
it be Catherine," said Elizabeth, "my dear Mother's
name! " -- little brown Czarina's, whom we have seen):
-- all this was completed by the 12th of July follow-
ing. And, in fine, next year (September 1st, 1745),
Peter Federowitz and this same Catherine-Alexiewna,
second-cousins by blood, were vouchsafed the Nuptial
Benediction, and, with invocation of the Russian
Heaven and Russian Earth, were declared to be one
flesh,*** -- though at last they^turned out to be two
fleshes, as my reader well knows! Some eighteen or
nineteen years hence, we may look in upon them
again, if there be a moment to spare. This is Marriage
First; a purely Russian one; built together 'and
* Friedrich's Letters to Madame of Zerbst (date of the first of them,
30th December 1743). In CEuvres, xxv. 579-589.
** "At Moscow, 7th (18th) February 1744. "
*** Ranke. iii. 129; Memoires tie Catherine 11 (Catherine's own very
curious bit of Autobiography; -- published by Mr. Herzen, London, 1859),
pp. 7-46.
Carlijle, Frederick the Great. VII. 23
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? 354 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [book XIV.
17th Jul? 1744.
launched on its course, so to say, by Friedrich at Ber-
lin, who had his own interest in it.
Marriage Second, done at Berlin in the same months,
was of still more interesting sort to Friedrich and us:
that of Princess Ulrique to the above-named Adolf
Friedrich, future King of Sweden. Marriage which
went on preparing itself by the side of the other; and
was of twin importance with it in regard to the Russian
Question. The Swedish Marriage was not heard of,
except in important whispers, during the Carnival
time; but a Swedish Minister had already come to
Berlin on it, and was busy first in a silent and ex-
amining, then in a speaking and proposing way. It
seems, the Czarina herself had suggested the thing,
as a counter-politeness to Friedrich; so content with
him at this time. A thing welcome to Friedrich. And,
in due course ("June 1744"), there comes express
Swedish Embassy, some Bodenskjold or Tessin, with a
very shining train of Swedes, "To demand Princess
Ulrique in marriage for our Future King. "
To which there is assent, by no means denial, in
the proper quarter. Whereupon, after the wide-spread
necessary fuglings and preliminaries, there occurs (all
by Procuration, Brother August Wilhelm doing the
Bridegroom's part), "July 17th, 1744," the Marriage
itself: all done, this last act, and the foregoing ones
and the following, with a grandeur and a splendour --
unspeakable, we may say, in short. * Fantastic Biel-
feld taxes his poor rouged Muse to the utmost, on this
occasion; and becomes positively wearisome, chanting
the upholsteries of Life; -- foolish fellow, spoiling his
* Helden-Geschichte, ii. 1045-51.
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? CHAP. Vllt. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 355
26th July 1744.
bits of facts withal, by misrecollections, and even by
express fictions thrown in as garnish. So that, beyond
the general impression, given in a high-rouged state,
there is nothing to be depended on. One Scene out of
his many, which represents to us on those terms the
finale, or actual Departure of Princess Ulrique, we shall
offer, -- with corrections (a few, not all); -- having
nothing better or other on the subject:
"But, in fine, the day of departure did arrive," -- eve of
it did: 25th July 1744; hour of starting to be 2 a. m. tomorrow.
"The King had nominated Grand-Marshal Graf von Gotter,"
-- (same Gotter whom we saw at Vienna once: King had ap-
pointed Gotter and two others; not to say that two of the
Princess's Brothers, with her Sister the Margravine of Schwedt,
were to accompany as far as Schwedt: six in all; though one's
poor memory fails one on some occasions! ) -- "to escort the
"Princess to Stralsund, where two Swedish Senators and
"different high Lords and Ladies awaited her. Her Majesty
"the Queen-Mother, judging by the movements of her own
"heart thatthe movement of separation wouldproduce a scene
"difficult to bear, had ordered an Opera to divert our chagrin;
"and, instead of supper, a superb collation en am bigu" (kind
of supper-breakfast, I suppose), "in the great Hall of the
"Palace. Her Majesty's plan was, ThePrincess, oncoming
"from the Opera, should, almost on flight, taste a morsel;
"take her travelling equipment, embrace her kinsfolk, dash
"into her carriage, and go off like lightning. Herr Graf
"von Gotter was charged with executing this design, and
"with hurrying the departure.
"But all these precautions were vain. The incomparable
"Ulrique was too dear to her Family and to her Country, to be
"parted with forever, without her meed of tears from them in
"those cruel instants. On entering the Opera-Hall, I noticed
"everywhere prevalent an air of sorrow, of sombre melancholy.
"The Princess appeared in Amazon-dress" (riding-habit,'
say), "of rose-colour trimmed with silver; the little vest,
"turned up with green-blue (celadon), and collar of the same;
"a little bonnet, English fashion, of black velvet, with a white
23*
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? 356 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [book XIV.
26th July 1744.
"plume to it; her hair floating, and tied with arosecoloured
"riband. She was beautiful asLove: but this dress, so elegant,
"and so well setting-off her charms, only the more sensibly
"awakened our regrets to lose her; and announced that the
"hour was come, in which, all this appeared among us for the
"last time. At the second act, young Prince lerdinand"
(Youngest Brother, Father of the Jena Ferdinand) "entered
"the Royal Box; and flinging himself on the Princess's neck
"with a burst of tears, Baid, 'Ah, my dear Ulrique, it is over,
"then; and I shall never see you more! ' These words were a
"signal given to the grief which was shut in all hearts, to burst
"forth with the greatest vehemence. The Princess replied only
"with sobs; holding her Brother in her arms. The Two
"Queens could not restrain their tears; the Princes and
"Princesses followed the example: grief is epidemical; it
"gained; directly all the Boxes of the first rank, where the
"Court and Nobility were. Each had his own causes of regret,
"and each melted into tears. Nobody paid the least attention
"farther to the Opera; and for my own share, I was glad to
"see it end.
"An involuntary movement took me towards the Palace.
"I entered the King's Apartments, and found the Royal
"Family and part of the Court assembled. Grief had reached
"its height; everybody has his handkerchief out; and I
"witnessed emotions quite otherwise affecting than those that
"Theatric Art can produce. The King had composed an Ode
"on the Princess's departure; bidding her his last adieus in
"the most tender and touching manner. It begins with these
"words:
"Partez, ma Swur, par lez; "Go, my Sister, go;
"La Suede vous attend, la Suede "Sweden waite you, Sweden
"vous desire. " "wishes you. " *
"His Majesty gave it her at the moment when she was about
"to take leave of the Two Queens. " -- (No, Monsieur, not
then; it came to her hand the second evening hence, at
Schwedt;** most likely not yet written at the time you fabu-
? Does not now exist (see CEuvres de Fridiric, xiv. 88, and ib. Preface,
p. xv. ).
* Her ownLetter toFriedrlch(CEuvres<feFre. ddric,xxYii. 372; "Schwedt,
28th July 1744").
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? CHAP. vni. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 357
26th July 1744.
lously give; -- you foolish fantast, and 'artist' of the sham-
kind! ) -- " The Princess threw her eyes on it, and fell into a
"faint" (No, you Sham, not for it): "the King had almost
"done the like. His tears flowed abundantly. The Princes
"and Princesses were overcome with sorrow. At last, Gotter
"judged it time to put an end to this tragic scene. He entered
"theHall, almost like Boreas in the Ballet of TheRose; that
"is to say, with a crash. He made one or two whirlwinds;
"clove the press, and snatched away the Princess from the
"arms of the Queen-Mother, took her in his own, and whisked
"her out of the Hall. All the world followed; the carriages
"were waiting in the court; and the Princess in a moment
"found herself in hers. I was in such a state, I know not how
"we got down stairs; I remember only that it was in a concert
"of lamentable sobbings. MadametheMargrafin von Schwedt,
"who had been named to attend the Princess to Stralsund"
(read Schwedt) "on the Swedish Frontier, this high Lady and
"the two Dames d'Atours who were for Sweden itself, having
"sprung into the same carriage, the door of it was shut with a
"slam; the postillions cracked, the carriage shot away,--
"and hid the adorable Ulrique from the eyes of King and
"Court, who remained motionless for some minutes, overcome
"by their feelings. "*
We said this Marriage was like the other, important
for Public Affairs. In fact, security on the Russian
and Swedish side is always an object with Friedrich
when undertaking war. "That the French bring about,
help me to bring about, a Triple Alliance of Prussia,
Russia, Sweden:" this was a thing Friedrich had bar-
gained to see done, before joining in the War ahead:
but by these Two Espousals Friedrich hopes he has
himself as good as done it. Of poor Princess Ulrique
and her glorious reception in Sweden (after near miss
of shipwreck, in the Swedish Frigate from Stralsund),
we shall say nothing more at present: except that her
glories, all along, were much dashed by chagrins, and
* Bielfeld, ii. 107-110.
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? 358 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [book XIV.
2Gth July 1744.
dangerous imminencies of shipwreck, -- which latter
did not quite overtake her, but did her sons and grand-
sons, being inevitable or nearly so, in that element, in
the course of time.
Sister Amelia, whom some thought disappointed, as
perhaps, in her foolish thought, she might a little be,
was made Abbess of Quedlinburg, which opulent bene-
fice had fallen vacant; and, there or at Berlin, lived a
respectable Spinster life, doubtless on easier terms than
Ulrique's. Always much loved by her Brother, and
loving him (and "taking care of his shirts," in the
final times); -- noted in society, for her sharp tongue
and ways. Concerning whom Thi^bault and his Trenck
romances are worth no notice, -- if it be not with
horsewhips on opportunity. Scandalum Magnatum,
where your Magnates are not fallen quite counterfeit,
was and is always (though few now reflect on it) a
most punishable crime.
Glance at the Belligerent Powers; Britannic Majesty
narrowly misses an Invasion that might have been
dangerous.
Princess Ulrique was hardly yet home in Sweden,
when her Brother had actually gone forth upon the
"Wars again! So different is outside from interior, now
and then. "While the dancing and the marriage-
"festivities went on at Court, we, in private, were
"busily completing the preparations for a Campaign,"
dreamed of by no mortal, "which was on the point of
being opened. "* July 2d, three weeks before Prin-
cess Ulrique left, a certain Adventure of Prince Karl's
* CEeuvres de Friiiric, iii. 41.
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? CHAP. vm. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 359
15th March 1744.
in the Rhine Countries had accomplished itself (of
which in the following Book); and Friedrich could dis-
cern clearly that the moment drew rapidly nigh.
On the French side of the War, there has been
visible, -- since those high attempts of Britannic George
and the Hungarian Majesty, contumeliously spurning
the Peace offered them, and grasping evidently at one's
Lorraines, Alsaces, and Three Bishoprics, -- a marked
change; comfortable to look at from Friedrich's side.
Most Christian Majesty, from the sad bent attitude of
insulted repentance, has started up into the perpendi-
cular one of indignation: "Come on, then! " -- and
really makes efforts, this Year, quite beyond expecta-
tion. "Oriflamme Enterprises, private intentions of
cutting Germany in Four; -well, have not I smarted for
them; as good as owned they were rather mad? But
to have my apology spit upon; but to be myself
publicly cut in pieces for them? "
March 15th, 1744, Most Christian Majesty did, as
we saw, duly declare War against England; against
Austria, April 26th: "England," he says, "broke its
Convention of Neutrality (signed 27th September 1741);
broke said Convention" (as was very natural, no term
being set) "directly after Maillebois was gone; Eng-
land, by its Mediterranean Admirals and the like, has,
to a degree beyond enduring, insulted the French
coasts, harbours and royal Navy: We declare War on
England. " And then, six weeks hence, in regard to
Austria: "Austria, refusing to make Peace with a
virtuous Kaiser, whom we, for the sake of peace, had
magnanimously helped, and then magnanimously ceased
to help; -- Austria refuses peace with him or us; on
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? 360 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [book XIV.
26th April 1744.
the contrary, Austria attempts, and has attempted, to
invade France itself: We therefore, on and from this
26th of April 1744, let the world note it, are at "War
with Austria. " * Both these promises to Friedrich are
punctually performed.
Nor, what is far more important, have the necessary
preparations been neglected; but are on a quite un-
heard-of scale. Such taxing and financiering there has
been, last Winter: -- tax on your street-lamp, on your
fire-wood, increased excise on meat and eatables of all
kinds: Be patient, ye poor; consider gloire, and an
Oriflamme so trampled on by the Austrian Heathen!
Eatables, street-lamps, do I say? There is 36,0007.
raised by tax on -- well, on garderobes (not translated)!
A small help, but a help: non olet, non oleat. To what
depths has Oriflamme come down! -- The result is,
this Spring of 1744, indignant France, does by land,
and even by sea, make an appearance calculated to
astonish Gazetteers and men. Land-forces 160,000
actually on foot: 80,000 (grows at last into 100,000,
for a little while) as "Army of the Netherlands," -- to
prick into Austria, and astonish England and the Dutch
Barrier, in that quarter. Of the rest, 20,000 under
Conti are for Italy; 60,000 (by degrees 40,000) under
Coigny for defence of the Rhine Countries, should
Prince Karl, as is surmisable, make new attempts
there. **
And besides all this, there are Two strong Fleets,
got actually launched, not yet into the deep sea, but
ready for it: one in Toulon Harbour, to avenge those
Mediterranean insults; and burst out, in concert with an
* In Adelung, iv. 78, 90, the two Manifestoes given.
** Adelung, iv. 78; Espagnac, ii. 3.
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? CHAP. Till. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 361
Jan. --April 1744.
impatient Spanish Fleet (which has lain blockaded here
for a year past), on the insolent blockading English:
which was in some sort done. * The other strong Fleet,
twenty sail of the line, under Admiral Roquefeuille, is
in Brest Harbour, -- intended for a still more delicate
operation; of which anon. Surely King Friedrich ought
to admit that these are fine symptoms? King Friedrich
has freely done so, all along; intending to strike in at
the right moment. Let us see, a little, how things have
gone; and how the right moment has been advancing
in late months.
January 17th, 1744, There landed at Antibes on French
soil, a young gentleman, by name 'Conte di Spinelli,' direct
from Genoa, from Rome; young gentleman seemingly of small
importance, but intrinsically of considerable; who hastened
off for Paris, and there disappeared. Disappeared into sub-
terranean consultations with the highest Official people; in-
tending reappearance with emphasis at Dunkirk, a few weeks
hence, in much more emphatic posture. And all through
February there is observable a brisk diligence of War-prepara-
tion, at Dunkirk: transport-ships in quantity, finally four
war-ships; 15,000 chosen troops, gradually marching in;
nearly all on board, with their equipments, by the end of the
month.
Clearly an Invading Army intended somewhither, England
judges too well whither. Anti-English Armament; to be led
by, whom thinks the reader? That same 'Conte di Spinelli,'
who is Charles Edward the Young Pretender, -- Comte de
Saxe commanding under him! This is no fable; it is a fact,
somewhat formidable; brought about, they say, by one
* "19th February 1744," French and Spanish Fleets run out; 22d
February, are attacked by Matthews and Lestock; are rather beaten , not
beaten nearly enough (Matthews and Lestock blaming one another,
Spaniards and French ditto, ditto: Adelung, iv. 32-35); -- with the endless
janglings, correspondings, Court-martial-ings that ensue (Beatson, Naval
and Military Memoirs, i. 197 et sqq. ; Gentleman's Magazine, and Old News-
papers, for 1744; &c. &c).
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? 362 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDINO. [bOOKXIV.
Jan. --April 1744.
Cardinal Tencin, an Official Person of celebrity in the then
Versailles world; who owes his red hat (whatever such debt
really be) to old Jacobite influence, exerted for him at
Rome; and takes this method of paying his debt and his court
at once. Gets, namely, his proposal, of a Charles-Edward
Invasion of England, to dovetail in with the other wide
artilleries now bent on little George in the way we see. Had
not little George better have stayed at home out of these
Pragmatic Wars? Fifteen thousand, aided by the native
Jacobite hosts, under command of Saxe, -- a Saxe against a
Wade is fearful odds, -- may make some figure in England!
We hope always they will not be able to land. Imagination
may conceive the flurry, if not of Britannic mankind, at least
of Britannic Majesty and his Official People, and what a stir
and din they made: -- of which this is the compressed upshot.
"Saturday, 1st March 1744. For nearly a week past, there
"has been seen hanging about in the Channel, and danger-
"ously hovering to and fro" (had entered by the Land's-End,
was first noticed on Sunday last 'nigh the Eddistone'), "a
"considerable French Fleet, sixteen great ships; with four or
"five more, probably belonging to it, which now lie off Dun-
"kirk: the intention of which is too well known in high
"quarters. This is the grand Brest Fleet, Admiral Roque-
"feuille's; which believes it can command the Channel, in
"present circumstances, the English Channel Fleets being in
"a disjoined condition, -- till Comte de Saxe, with his Charles
"Edward and 15,000, do ship themselves across! Great alarm
"in consequence; our War-forces, 40,000 of them, all in
"Germany; not the least preparation to receive an Invasive
"Armament. Comte de Saxe is veritably at Dunkirk, since
"Saturday, March 1st; busy shipping his 15,000; equipments
"mostly shipped, and about 10,000 of the men: all is activity
"there; Boquefeuille hanging about Dungeness, with four of
"his twenty great ships detached for more immediate protec-
tion of Saxe and those Dunkirk industries. To meet which,
"old Admiral Norris, off and on towards the Nore and the
"Forelands, has been doing his best to rally force about him;
"hopes he will now be match for Roquefeuille:-- but if he
"should not?
"Thursday, 6th March. Afternoon of March 5th, old
"Admiral Norris, hoping he was at length in something like
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? CHAP. VIII. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 363
Jan. --April 1744.
"equality, 'tided it round the South Foreland;' sawRoque-
"feuille hanging, in full tale, within few miles; -- and at once
"plunged into him? No, reader; not at once, nor indeed at
"all. A great seafight was expected; but our old Norris
"thought it late in the day; -- and in effect, no fight proved
"needful. Daylight was not yet sunk, when there rose from
"the north-eastward a heavy gale; blew all night, and by six
"next morning, was a raging storm; had blown Roquefeuille
"quite away out of those waters (fractions of him upon the
"rocks of Guernsey); had tumbled Comte de Saxe's Trans-
ports bottom uppermost (so to speak), in Dunkirk Roads; --
"and, in fact, had blown the Enterprise over the horizon, and
"relieved the Official Britannic mind in the usual miraculous
"manner.
"M. le Comte de Saxe, -- who had, by superhuman acti-
vity, saved nearly all his men, in that hideous topsy-turvy
"of the Transports and munitions,-- returned straightway,
"and much more M. le Comte de Spinelli with him, to Paris.
"Comte de Saxe was directly thereupon made Mare'ehal de
"France; appointed to be Colleague of Noailles in the ensuing
"Netherlands Campaign. 'Comte de Spinelli went to lodge
"with his Uncle, the Cardinal Grand-Almoner Fitz-James' (a
"zealous gentleman, of influence with the Holy Father), and
"there in privacy to wait other chances that might rise. 'The
"1,500 silver medals, that had been struck for distribution
"in Great Britain,' fell, for this time, into the melting pot
"again. *
"Great stir, in British Parliament and Public, there had
"latterly been on this matter: Arrestment of suspected per-
"sons, banishment of all Catholics ten miles from London;
"likewise registering of horses (to gallop with cannon whither
"wanted); likewise improvising of cavalry regiments by per-
"sons of condition,' Set our plush people on our coach-horses;
"there! ' (Yes, there will be a Cavalry, -- inferior to General
Ziethen's! ); "and were actually drilling them in several
"places, when that fortunate blast of storm (March 6th) blew
"everything to quiet again. Fieldmarshal Earl of Stair, in
"regard to the Scottish 'populations, had shown a noble
"magnanimity; which was recognised: and a General Sir
* Tindal, xxi. 22 (mostly a puddle of inaccuracies, as usual); Espagnac,
. 213; Gent lemon's -Magazine, xiv. 106, &c. ; Bar trier, ii. 382, 385, 388.
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? 364 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [BOOKXrv.
Jan. --April 1744.
"John Cope rode off, post-haste, to take the chief command
"in that Country; -- where, in about eighteen months hence,
"he made a very shining thing of it! -- Take this other
Cutting from Old Newspapers:
"Friday, 31s( (20th) March 1744, A general press began for
"recruiting his Majesty's regiments, and manning the Fleet;
"when upwards of 1,000 men were secured in the jails of Lon-
"don and Westminster; being allowed sixpence a head per
"diem, by the Commissioners of the Land-tax, who examine
"them, and send those away that are found fit for his Majesty's
"service. The same method was taken in each County. "
Press ceases; enough being got, -- press no more till farther
order: 5th (16th) June*
Britannic Majesty, shaken by such omens, does not
in person visit Germany at all this Year; nor, by his
Deputies, at all shine on the fields of War as lately.
He, his English and he, did indeed come down with
their cash in a prompt and manful manner, but showed
little other activity this year. Their troops were
already in the Netherlands, since Winter last; led now
by a Fieldmarshal Wade, of whom one has heard; to
whom joined themselves certain Austrians, under Due
d'Ahremberg, and certain Dutch, under some other man
in cocked-hat: the whole of whom, under Marshal
Wade's chief guidance, did as good as nothing what-
ever. "Inferior in force! " cried Marshal Wade; an
indolent incompetent old gentleman, frightful to see in
command of troops: "inferior in force! " cried he,
which was not at first quite the case. And when, by
additions to himself, and deductions (of a most unex-
pected nature) from his Enemy, he had become nearly
double in force, it was all the same: Marshal Wade
(against whom indeed was Mare'chal de Saxe, now in
* Gentleman's Magazine for 1744, pp. 226, 333.
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? CHAP. VIII. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 365
Feb. --April 1744.
sole command, as we shall see) took shelter in safe
places, witnessing therefrom the swift destruction of
the Netherlands, and would attempt nothing. Which
indeed was perhaps prudent on the Marshal's part.
Much money was spent, and men enough did puddle
themselves to death on the clay roads, or bivouacking
in the safe swamps; but not the least stroke of battle
was got out of them under this old Marshal. Had
perhaps "a divided command, though nominal Chief,"
poor old gentleman; -- yes, and a head that under-
stood nothing of his business withal. One of those
same astonishing "Generals" of the English, now be-
coming known in Natural History; the like of whom,
till within these hundred and fifty years, were not
heard of among sane Nations. Saxe versus Wade is
fearful odds. To judge by the way Saxe has of hand-
ling Wade, may not we thank Heaven that it was not
here in England the trial came on! Lift up both your
hands, and bless -- not General Wade, quite yet.
The young Duke of Wurtemberg gets a valedictory Ad-
vice; and Pbllnitz a ditto Testimonial (February 6th;
April 1st, 1744).
February 7th, 1744, Karl Eugen, the young Duke
of Wurtemberg, -- Friedrich having got, from the Kai-
ser, due Dispensation (venia cetatis) for the young gen-
tleman, and had him declared Duke Regnant, though
only sixteen, -- quitted Berlin with great pomp, for
his own Country, on that errand. Friedrich had hoped
hereby to settle the Wurtemberg matters on a good
footing, and be sure of a friend in Wurtemberg to the
Kaiser and himself. Which hope, like everybody's
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? 366 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [bOOKHV.
Feb. --April 1744.
hopes about this young gentleman, was entirely dis-
appointed; said young gentleman having got into per-
verse, haughty, sulky, ill-conditioned ways, and made
a bad Life and Reign of it, -- better to lie mostly
hidden from us henceforth, at least for many years to
come. The excellent Parting Letter which Friedrich
gave him got abroad into the world; was christened
the Mirror of Princes, and greatly admired by man-
kind. It is indeed an almost faultless Piece of its
kind; comprising, in a flowing yet precise way, with
admirable frankness, sincerity, sagacity, succinctness, a
Whole Duty of Regnant Man; * -- but I fear it would
only weary the reader; perfect advice having become
so plentiful in our Epoch, with little but "pavement"
to a certain Locality the consequence! --
There is, of the same months, a Testimonial to Poll-
nitz, which also got abroad and had its celebrity: this,
as specimen of Friedrich on the comic side, will per-
haps be less afflicting; and it will rid us of Pollnitz,
poor soul, on handsome terms.
Jan. --Aug. 1744.
styled; now in his thirty-third year; and at least
drawing the revenues of that See, though I think, not
ecclesiastically given, but living oftener in Hamburg,
the then fashionable resort of those Northern Grandees.
On the whole, a likely young gentleman; accepted by
parties concerned; -- and surely good enough for the
Office as it now is. Of whom, for a reason coming,
let readers take note, in this place.
Above a year before this time,* Czarina Elizabeth,
a provident female, and determined not to wed, had
pitched upon her own successor: one Karl Peter Ulrich;
who was also of the same Holstein-Gottorp set, though
with Eussian blood in him. His Grandfather was full
cousin, and chosen comrade, to Karl XII. ; got killed
in Karl's Russian "Wars; and left a poor Son dependent
on Eussian Peter the Great, -- who gave him one of
his Daughters; whence this Karl Peter Ulrich, an
orphan, dear to his Aunt the Czarina. A Karl Peter
Ulrich, who became tragically famous as Czar Peter
Federowitz, or Czar Peter III. , in the course of twenty
years! Hie Father and Mother are both dead; loving
Aunt has snatched the poor boy out of Holstein-Gottorp,
which is a narrow sphere, into Eussia, which is wide
enough; she has had him converted to the Greek
Church, named him Peter Federowitz, Heir and Suc-
cessor; -- and now, wishing to see him married, has
earnestly consulted Friedrich upon it.
Friedrich is decidedly interested; would grudge
much to see an Anti-Prussian Princess, for instance a
Saxon Princess (one of whom is said to be trying),
put into this important station! After a little thought,
he fixes, -- does the reader know upon whom? Eeaders
* 7th November 1742 (Michaelis, ii. 627).
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? 352 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [book XIV.
Jan. --Aug. 1744.
perhaps, here and there, have some recollection of a
Prussian General, who is Titular Prince of Anhalt-
Zerbst on his own score; and is actual Commandant
of Stettin in Friedrich's service, and has done a great
deal of good fortification there and other good work.
Instead of Titular, he has now lately, by decease of
an Elder Brother, become Actual or Semi-Actual (a
Brother joined with him in the poor Heirship); lives
occasionally in the Schloss of Zerbst; but is glad to
retain Stettin as a solid supplement. His Wife, let the
reader note farther, is Sister to the above-mentioned
Adolf Friedrich, "Bishop of Liibeek," now Heir-
Apparent to Sweden, -- in whom, as will soon appear,
we are otherwise interested. Wife seems to me an
airy flighty kind of lady, high-paced, not too sure-
paced, -- weak evidently in French grammar, and
perhaps in human sense withal: -- but they have a
Daughter, Sophie-Frederike, now near fifteen, and very
forward for her age; comely to look upon, wise to
listen to: "Is not she the suitable one? " thinks Fried-
rich, in regard to this matter. "Her kindred is of the
oldest, old as Albert the Bear; she has been frugally
brought up, Spartan-like, though as a Princess by
birth: let her cease skipping ropes on the ramparts
yonder, with her young Stettin playmates; and prepare
for being a Czarina of the Russias," thinks he. And
communicates his mind to the Czarina; who answers,
"Excellent! How did I never think of that myself? "
And so, on or about Newyear's day 1744, while
the Commandant of Stettin and his airy Spouse are
doing Christmas at their old Schloss of Zerbst, there
suddenly come Estafettes; Expresses from Petersburg,
heralded by Express from Friedrich: -- with the
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? CHAP. VIII. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 353
Jan. --Aug. 1744.
astonishing proposal, "Czarina wishing the honour of
a visit from Madame and Daughter; no doubt, with
such and such intensions in the rear. "* Madame, nor
Daughter, is nothing loth; -- the old Commandant
grumbles in his beard, not positively forbidding: and
in this manner, after a Letter or two in imperfect
grammar, Madame and Daughter appear in Carnival
society at Berlin, charming objects both; but do not
stay long; in fact, stay only till their moneys and
arrangements are furnished them. . Upon which, in all
silence, they make for Petersburg, for Moscow; travel
rapidly, arrive successfully, in spite of the grim season. **
Conversion to the Greek Religion, change of name
from Sophie-Frederike to Catherine-Alexiewna ("Let
it be Catherine," said Elizabeth, "my dear Mother's
name! " -- little brown Czarina's, whom we have seen):
-- all this was completed by the 12th of July follow-
ing. And, in fine, next year (September 1st, 1745),
Peter Federowitz and this same Catherine-Alexiewna,
second-cousins by blood, were vouchsafed the Nuptial
Benediction, and, with invocation of the Russian
Heaven and Russian Earth, were declared to be one
flesh,*** -- though at last they^turned out to be two
fleshes, as my reader well knows! Some eighteen or
nineteen years hence, we may look in upon them
again, if there be a moment to spare. This is Marriage
First; a purely Russian one; built together 'and
* Friedrich's Letters to Madame of Zerbst (date of the first of them,
30th December 1743). In CEuvres, xxv. 579-589.
** "At Moscow, 7th (18th) February 1744. "
*** Ranke. iii. 129; Memoires tie Catherine 11 (Catherine's own very
curious bit of Autobiography; -- published by Mr. Herzen, London, 1859),
pp. 7-46.
Carlijle, Frederick the Great. VII. 23
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? 354 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [book XIV.
17th Jul? 1744.
launched on its course, so to say, by Friedrich at Ber-
lin, who had his own interest in it.
Marriage Second, done at Berlin in the same months,
was of still more interesting sort to Friedrich and us:
that of Princess Ulrique to the above-named Adolf
Friedrich, future King of Sweden. Marriage which
went on preparing itself by the side of the other; and
was of twin importance with it in regard to the Russian
Question. The Swedish Marriage was not heard of,
except in important whispers, during the Carnival
time; but a Swedish Minister had already come to
Berlin on it, and was busy first in a silent and ex-
amining, then in a speaking and proposing way. It
seems, the Czarina herself had suggested the thing,
as a counter-politeness to Friedrich; so content with
him at this time. A thing welcome to Friedrich. And,
in due course ("June 1744"), there comes express
Swedish Embassy, some Bodenskjold or Tessin, with a
very shining train of Swedes, "To demand Princess
Ulrique in marriage for our Future King. "
To which there is assent, by no means denial, in
the proper quarter. Whereupon, after the wide-spread
necessary fuglings and preliminaries, there occurs (all
by Procuration, Brother August Wilhelm doing the
Bridegroom's part), "July 17th, 1744," the Marriage
itself: all done, this last act, and the foregoing ones
and the following, with a grandeur and a splendour --
unspeakable, we may say, in short. * Fantastic Biel-
feld taxes his poor rouged Muse to the utmost, on this
occasion; and becomes positively wearisome, chanting
the upholsteries of Life; -- foolish fellow, spoiling his
* Helden-Geschichte, ii. 1045-51.
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? CHAP. Vllt. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 355
26th July 1744.
bits of facts withal, by misrecollections, and even by
express fictions thrown in as garnish. So that, beyond
the general impression, given in a high-rouged state,
there is nothing to be depended on. One Scene out of
his many, which represents to us on those terms the
finale, or actual Departure of Princess Ulrique, we shall
offer, -- with corrections (a few, not all); -- having
nothing better or other on the subject:
"But, in fine, the day of departure did arrive," -- eve of
it did: 25th July 1744; hour of starting to be 2 a. m. tomorrow.
"The King had nominated Grand-Marshal Graf von Gotter,"
-- (same Gotter whom we saw at Vienna once: King had ap-
pointed Gotter and two others; not to say that two of the
Princess's Brothers, with her Sister the Margravine of Schwedt,
were to accompany as far as Schwedt: six in all; though one's
poor memory fails one on some occasions! ) -- "to escort the
"Princess to Stralsund, where two Swedish Senators and
"different high Lords and Ladies awaited her. Her Majesty
"the Queen-Mother, judging by the movements of her own
"heart thatthe movement of separation wouldproduce a scene
"difficult to bear, had ordered an Opera to divert our chagrin;
"and, instead of supper, a superb collation en am bigu" (kind
of supper-breakfast, I suppose), "in the great Hall of the
"Palace. Her Majesty's plan was, ThePrincess, oncoming
"from the Opera, should, almost on flight, taste a morsel;
"take her travelling equipment, embrace her kinsfolk, dash
"into her carriage, and go off like lightning. Herr Graf
"von Gotter was charged with executing this design, and
"with hurrying the departure.
"But all these precautions were vain. The incomparable
"Ulrique was too dear to her Family and to her Country, to be
"parted with forever, without her meed of tears from them in
"those cruel instants. On entering the Opera-Hall, I noticed
"everywhere prevalent an air of sorrow, of sombre melancholy.
"The Princess appeared in Amazon-dress" (riding-habit,'
say), "of rose-colour trimmed with silver; the little vest,
"turned up with green-blue (celadon), and collar of the same;
"a little bonnet, English fashion, of black velvet, with a white
23*
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? 356 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [book XIV.
26th July 1744.
"plume to it; her hair floating, and tied with arosecoloured
"riband. She was beautiful asLove: but this dress, so elegant,
"and so well setting-off her charms, only the more sensibly
"awakened our regrets to lose her; and announced that the
"hour was come, in which, all this appeared among us for the
"last time. At the second act, young Prince lerdinand"
(Youngest Brother, Father of the Jena Ferdinand) "entered
"the Royal Box; and flinging himself on the Princess's neck
"with a burst of tears, Baid, 'Ah, my dear Ulrique, it is over,
"then; and I shall never see you more! ' These words were a
"signal given to the grief which was shut in all hearts, to burst
"forth with the greatest vehemence. The Princess replied only
"with sobs; holding her Brother in her arms. The Two
"Queens could not restrain their tears; the Princes and
"Princesses followed the example: grief is epidemical; it
"gained; directly all the Boxes of the first rank, where the
"Court and Nobility were. Each had his own causes of regret,
"and each melted into tears. Nobody paid the least attention
"farther to the Opera; and for my own share, I was glad to
"see it end.
"An involuntary movement took me towards the Palace.
"I entered the King's Apartments, and found the Royal
"Family and part of the Court assembled. Grief had reached
"its height; everybody has his handkerchief out; and I
"witnessed emotions quite otherwise affecting than those that
"Theatric Art can produce. The King had composed an Ode
"on the Princess's departure; bidding her his last adieus in
"the most tender and touching manner. It begins with these
"words:
"Partez, ma Swur, par lez; "Go, my Sister, go;
"La Suede vous attend, la Suede "Sweden waite you, Sweden
"vous desire. " "wishes you. " *
"His Majesty gave it her at the moment when she was about
"to take leave of the Two Queens. " -- (No, Monsieur, not
then; it came to her hand the second evening hence, at
Schwedt;** most likely not yet written at the time you fabu-
? Does not now exist (see CEuvres de Fridiric, xiv. 88, and ib. Preface,
p. xv. ).
* Her ownLetter toFriedrlch(CEuvres<feFre. ddric,xxYii. 372; "Schwedt,
28th July 1744").
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? CHAP. vni. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 357
26th July 1744.
lously give; -- you foolish fantast, and 'artist' of the sham-
kind! ) -- " The Princess threw her eyes on it, and fell into a
"faint" (No, you Sham, not for it): "the King had almost
"done the like. His tears flowed abundantly. The Princes
"and Princesses were overcome with sorrow. At last, Gotter
"judged it time to put an end to this tragic scene. He entered
"theHall, almost like Boreas in the Ballet of TheRose; that
"is to say, with a crash. He made one or two whirlwinds;
"clove the press, and snatched away the Princess from the
"arms of the Queen-Mother, took her in his own, and whisked
"her out of the Hall. All the world followed; the carriages
"were waiting in the court; and the Princess in a moment
"found herself in hers. I was in such a state, I know not how
"we got down stairs; I remember only that it was in a concert
"of lamentable sobbings. MadametheMargrafin von Schwedt,
"who had been named to attend the Princess to Stralsund"
(read Schwedt) "on the Swedish Frontier, this high Lady and
"the two Dames d'Atours who were for Sweden itself, having
"sprung into the same carriage, the door of it was shut with a
"slam; the postillions cracked, the carriage shot away,--
"and hid the adorable Ulrique from the eyes of King and
"Court, who remained motionless for some minutes, overcome
"by their feelings. "*
We said this Marriage was like the other, important
for Public Affairs. In fact, security on the Russian
and Swedish side is always an object with Friedrich
when undertaking war. "That the French bring about,
help me to bring about, a Triple Alliance of Prussia,
Russia, Sweden:" this was a thing Friedrich had bar-
gained to see done, before joining in the War ahead:
but by these Two Espousals Friedrich hopes he has
himself as good as done it. Of poor Princess Ulrique
and her glorious reception in Sweden (after near miss
of shipwreck, in the Swedish Frigate from Stralsund),
we shall say nothing more at present: except that her
glories, all along, were much dashed by chagrins, and
* Bielfeld, ii. 107-110.
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? 358 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [book XIV.
2Gth July 1744.
dangerous imminencies of shipwreck, -- which latter
did not quite overtake her, but did her sons and grand-
sons, being inevitable or nearly so, in that element, in
the course of time.
Sister Amelia, whom some thought disappointed, as
perhaps, in her foolish thought, she might a little be,
was made Abbess of Quedlinburg, which opulent bene-
fice had fallen vacant; and, there or at Berlin, lived a
respectable Spinster life, doubtless on easier terms than
Ulrique's. Always much loved by her Brother, and
loving him (and "taking care of his shirts," in the
final times); -- noted in society, for her sharp tongue
and ways. Concerning whom Thi^bault and his Trenck
romances are worth no notice, -- if it be not with
horsewhips on opportunity. Scandalum Magnatum,
where your Magnates are not fallen quite counterfeit,
was and is always (though few now reflect on it) a
most punishable crime.
Glance at the Belligerent Powers; Britannic Majesty
narrowly misses an Invasion that might have been
dangerous.
Princess Ulrique was hardly yet home in Sweden,
when her Brother had actually gone forth upon the
"Wars again! So different is outside from interior, now
and then. "While the dancing and the marriage-
"festivities went on at Court, we, in private, were
"busily completing the preparations for a Campaign,"
dreamed of by no mortal, "which was on the point of
being opened. "* July 2d, three weeks before Prin-
cess Ulrique left, a certain Adventure of Prince Karl's
* CEeuvres de Friiiric, iii. 41.
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? CHAP. vm. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 359
15th March 1744.
in the Rhine Countries had accomplished itself (of
which in the following Book); and Friedrich could dis-
cern clearly that the moment drew rapidly nigh.
On the French side of the War, there has been
visible, -- since those high attempts of Britannic George
and the Hungarian Majesty, contumeliously spurning
the Peace offered them, and grasping evidently at one's
Lorraines, Alsaces, and Three Bishoprics, -- a marked
change; comfortable to look at from Friedrich's side.
Most Christian Majesty, from the sad bent attitude of
insulted repentance, has started up into the perpendi-
cular one of indignation: "Come on, then! " -- and
really makes efforts, this Year, quite beyond expecta-
tion. "Oriflamme Enterprises, private intentions of
cutting Germany in Four; -well, have not I smarted for
them; as good as owned they were rather mad? But
to have my apology spit upon; but to be myself
publicly cut in pieces for them? "
March 15th, 1744, Most Christian Majesty did, as
we saw, duly declare War against England; against
Austria, April 26th: "England," he says, "broke its
Convention of Neutrality (signed 27th September 1741);
broke said Convention" (as was very natural, no term
being set) "directly after Maillebois was gone; Eng-
land, by its Mediterranean Admirals and the like, has,
to a degree beyond enduring, insulted the French
coasts, harbours and royal Navy: We declare War on
England. " And then, six weeks hence, in regard to
Austria: "Austria, refusing to make Peace with a
virtuous Kaiser, whom we, for the sake of peace, had
magnanimously helped, and then magnanimously ceased
to help; -- Austria refuses peace with him or us; on
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? 360 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [book XIV.
26th April 1744.
the contrary, Austria attempts, and has attempted, to
invade France itself: We therefore, on and from this
26th of April 1744, let the world note it, are at "War
with Austria. " * Both these promises to Friedrich are
punctually performed.
Nor, what is far more important, have the necessary
preparations been neglected; but are on a quite un-
heard-of scale. Such taxing and financiering there has
been, last Winter: -- tax on your street-lamp, on your
fire-wood, increased excise on meat and eatables of all
kinds: Be patient, ye poor; consider gloire, and an
Oriflamme so trampled on by the Austrian Heathen!
Eatables, street-lamps, do I say? There is 36,0007.
raised by tax on -- well, on garderobes (not translated)!
A small help, but a help: non olet, non oleat. To what
depths has Oriflamme come down! -- The result is,
this Spring of 1744, indignant France, does by land,
and even by sea, make an appearance calculated to
astonish Gazetteers and men. Land-forces 160,000
actually on foot: 80,000 (grows at last into 100,000,
for a little while) as "Army of the Netherlands," -- to
prick into Austria, and astonish England and the Dutch
Barrier, in that quarter. Of the rest, 20,000 under
Conti are for Italy; 60,000 (by degrees 40,000) under
Coigny for defence of the Rhine Countries, should
Prince Karl, as is surmisable, make new attempts
there. **
And besides all this, there are Two strong Fleets,
got actually launched, not yet into the deep sea, but
ready for it: one in Toulon Harbour, to avenge those
Mediterranean insults; and burst out, in concert with an
* In Adelung, iv. 78, 90, the two Manifestoes given.
** Adelung, iv. 78; Espagnac, ii. 3.
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? CHAP. Till. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 361
Jan. --April 1744.
impatient Spanish Fleet (which has lain blockaded here
for a year past), on the insolent blockading English:
which was in some sort done. * The other strong Fleet,
twenty sail of the line, under Admiral Roquefeuille, is
in Brest Harbour, -- intended for a still more delicate
operation; of which anon. Surely King Friedrich ought
to admit that these are fine symptoms? King Friedrich
has freely done so, all along; intending to strike in at
the right moment. Let us see, a little, how things have
gone; and how the right moment has been advancing
in late months.
January 17th, 1744, There landed at Antibes on French
soil, a young gentleman, by name 'Conte di Spinelli,' direct
from Genoa, from Rome; young gentleman seemingly of small
importance, but intrinsically of considerable; who hastened
off for Paris, and there disappeared. Disappeared into sub-
terranean consultations with the highest Official people; in-
tending reappearance with emphasis at Dunkirk, a few weeks
hence, in much more emphatic posture. And all through
February there is observable a brisk diligence of War-prepara-
tion, at Dunkirk: transport-ships in quantity, finally four
war-ships; 15,000 chosen troops, gradually marching in;
nearly all on board, with their equipments, by the end of the
month.
Clearly an Invading Army intended somewhither, England
judges too well whither. Anti-English Armament; to be led
by, whom thinks the reader? That same 'Conte di Spinelli,'
who is Charles Edward the Young Pretender, -- Comte de
Saxe commanding under him! This is no fable; it is a fact,
somewhat formidable; brought about, they say, by one
* "19th February 1744," French and Spanish Fleets run out; 22d
February, are attacked by Matthews and Lestock; are rather beaten , not
beaten nearly enough (Matthews and Lestock blaming one another,
Spaniards and French ditto, ditto: Adelung, iv. 32-35); -- with the endless
janglings, correspondings, Court-martial-ings that ensue (Beatson, Naval
and Military Memoirs, i. 197 et sqq. ; Gentleman's Magazine, and Old News-
papers, for 1744; &c. &c).
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? 362 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDINO. [bOOKXIV.
Jan. --April 1744.
Cardinal Tencin, an Official Person of celebrity in the then
Versailles world; who owes his red hat (whatever such debt
really be) to old Jacobite influence, exerted for him at
Rome; and takes this method of paying his debt and his court
at once. Gets, namely, his proposal, of a Charles-Edward
Invasion of England, to dovetail in with the other wide
artilleries now bent on little George in the way we see. Had
not little George better have stayed at home out of these
Pragmatic Wars? Fifteen thousand, aided by the native
Jacobite hosts, under command of Saxe, -- a Saxe against a
Wade is fearful odds, -- may make some figure in England!
We hope always they will not be able to land. Imagination
may conceive the flurry, if not of Britannic mankind, at least
of Britannic Majesty and his Official People, and what a stir
and din they made: -- of which this is the compressed upshot.
"Saturday, 1st March 1744. For nearly a week past, there
"has been seen hanging about in the Channel, and danger-
"ously hovering to and fro" (had entered by the Land's-End,
was first noticed on Sunday last 'nigh the Eddistone'), "a
"considerable French Fleet, sixteen great ships; with four or
"five more, probably belonging to it, which now lie off Dun-
"kirk: the intention of which is too well known in high
"quarters. This is the grand Brest Fleet, Admiral Roque-
"feuille's; which believes it can command the Channel, in
"present circumstances, the English Channel Fleets being in
"a disjoined condition, -- till Comte de Saxe, with his Charles
"Edward and 15,000, do ship themselves across! Great alarm
"in consequence; our War-forces, 40,000 of them, all in
"Germany; not the least preparation to receive an Invasive
"Armament. Comte de Saxe is veritably at Dunkirk, since
"Saturday, March 1st; busy shipping his 15,000; equipments
"mostly shipped, and about 10,000 of the men: all is activity
"there; Boquefeuille hanging about Dungeness, with four of
"his twenty great ships detached for more immediate protec-
tion of Saxe and those Dunkirk industries. To meet which,
"old Admiral Norris, off and on towards the Nore and the
"Forelands, has been doing his best to rally force about him;
"hopes he will now be match for Roquefeuille:-- but if he
"should not?
"Thursday, 6th March. Afternoon of March 5th, old
"Admiral Norris, hoping he was at length in something like
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? CHAP. VIII. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 363
Jan. --April 1744.
"equality, 'tided it round the South Foreland;' sawRoque-
"feuille hanging, in full tale, within few miles; -- and at once
"plunged into him? No, reader; not at once, nor indeed at
"all. A great seafight was expected; but our old Norris
"thought it late in the day; -- and in effect, no fight proved
"needful. Daylight was not yet sunk, when there rose from
"the north-eastward a heavy gale; blew all night, and by six
"next morning, was a raging storm; had blown Roquefeuille
"quite away out of those waters (fractions of him upon the
"rocks of Guernsey); had tumbled Comte de Saxe's Trans-
ports bottom uppermost (so to speak), in Dunkirk Roads; --
"and, in fact, had blown the Enterprise over the horizon, and
"relieved the Official Britannic mind in the usual miraculous
"manner.
"M. le Comte de Saxe, -- who had, by superhuman acti-
vity, saved nearly all his men, in that hideous topsy-turvy
"of the Transports and munitions,-- returned straightway,
"and much more M. le Comte de Spinelli with him, to Paris.
"Comte de Saxe was directly thereupon made Mare'ehal de
"France; appointed to be Colleague of Noailles in the ensuing
"Netherlands Campaign. 'Comte de Spinelli went to lodge
"with his Uncle, the Cardinal Grand-Almoner Fitz-James' (a
"zealous gentleman, of influence with the Holy Father), and
"there in privacy to wait other chances that might rise. 'The
"1,500 silver medals, that had been struck for distribution
"in Great Britain,' fell, for this time, into the melting pot
"again. *
"Great stir, in British Parliament and Public, there had
"latterly been on this matter: Arrestment of suspected per-
"sons, banishment of all Catholics ten miles from London;
"likewise registering of horses (to gallop with cannon whither
"wanted); likewise improvising of cavalry regiments by per-
"sons of condition,' Set our plush people on our coach-horses;
"there! ' (Yes, there will be a Cavalry, -- inferior to General
Ziethen's! ); "and were actually drilling them in several
"places, when that fortunate blast of storm (March 6th) blew
"everything to quiet again. Fieldmarshal Earl of Stair, in
"regard to the Scottish 'populations, had shown a noble
"magnanimity; which was recognised: and a General Sir
* Tindal, xxi. 22 (mostly a puddle of inaccuracies, as usual); Espagnac,
. 213; Gent lemon's -Magazine, xiv. 106, &c. ; Bar trier, ii. 382, 385, 388.
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? 364 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [BOOKXrv.
Jan. --April 1744.
"John Cope rode off, post-haste, to take the chief command
"in that Country; -- where, in about eighteen months hence,
"he made a very shining thing of it! -- Take this other
Cutting from Old Newspapers:
"Friday, 31s( (20th) March 1744, A general press began for
"recruiting his Majesty's regiments, and manning the Fleet;
"when upwards of 1,000 men were secured in the jails of Lon-
"don and Westminster; being allowed sixpence a head per
"diem, by the Commissioners of the Land-tax, who examine
"them, and send those away that are found fit for his Majesty's
"service. The same method was taken in each County. "
Press ceases; enough being got, -- press no more till farther
order: 5th (16th) June*
Britannic Majesty, shaken by such omens, does not
in person visit Germany at all this Year; nor, by his
Deputies, at all shine on the fields of War as lately.
He, his English and he, did indeed come down with
their cash in a prompt and manful manner, but showed
little other activity this year. Their troops were
already in the Netherlands, since Winter last; led now
by a Fieldmarshal Wade, of whom one has heard; to
whom joined themselves certain Austrians, under Due
d'Ahremberg, and certain Dutch, under some other man
in cocked-hat: the whole of whom, under Marshal
Wade's chief guidance, did as good as nothing what-
ever. "Inferior in force! " cried Marshal Wade; an
indolent incompetent old gentleman, frightful to see in
command of troops: "inferior in force! " cried he,
which was not at first quite the case. And when, by
additions to himself, and deductions (of a most unex-
pected nature) from his Enemy, he had become nearly
double in force, it was all the same: Marshal Wade
(against whom indeed was Mare'chal de Saxe, now in
* Gentleman's Magazine for 1744, pp. 226, 333.
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? CHAP. VIII. ] PEACE AT BERLIN, WAR ALL ROUND. 365
Feb. --April 1744.
sole command, as we shall see) took shelter in safe
places, witnessing therefrom the swift destruction of
the Netherlands, and would attempt nothing. Which
indeed was perhaps prudent on the Marshal's part.
Much money was spent, and men enough did puddle
themselves to death on the clay roads, or bivouacking
in the safe swamps; but not the least stroke of battle
was got out of them under this old Marshal. Had
perhaps "a divided command, though nominal Chief,"
poor old gentleman; -- yes, and a head that under-
stood nothing of his business withal. One of those
same astonishing "Generals" of the English, now be-
coming known in Natural History; the like of whom,
till within these hundred and fifty years, were not
heard of among sane Nations. Saxe versus Wade is
fearful odds. To judge by the way Saxe has of hand-
ling Wade, may not we thank Heaven that it was not
here in England the trial came on! Lift up both your
hands, and bless -- not General Wade, quite yet.
The young Duke of Wurtemberg gets a valedictory Ad-
vice; and Pbllnitz a ditto Testimonial (February 6th;
April 1st, 1744).
February 7th, 1744, Karl Eugen, the young Duke
of Wurtemberg, -- Friedrich having got, from the Kai-
ser, due Dispensation (venia cetatis) for the young gen-
tleman, and had him declared Duke Regnant, though
only sixteen, -- quitted Berlin with great pomp, for
his own Country, on that errand. Friedrich had hoped
hereby to settle the Wurtemberg matters on a good
footing, and be sure of a friend in Wurtemberg to the
Kaiser and himself. Which hope, like everybody's
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? 366 EUROPEAN WAR NOT ENDING. [bOOKHV.
Feb. --April 1744.
hopes about this young gentleman, was entirely dis-
appointed; said young gentleman having got into per-
verse, haughty, sulky, ill-conditioned ways, and made
a bad Life and Reign of it, -- better to lie mostly
hidden from us henceforth, at least for many years to
come. The excellent Parting Letter which Friedrich
gave him got abroad into the world; was christened
the Mirror of Princes, and greatly admired by man-
kind. It is indeed an almost faultless Piece of its
kind; comprising, in a flowing yet precise way, with
admirable frankness, sincerity, sagacity, succinctness, a
Whole Duty of Regnant Man; * -- but I fear it would
only weary the reader; perfect advice having become
so plentiful in our Epoch, with little but "pavement"
to a certain Locality the consequence! --
There is, of the same months, a Testimonial to Poll-
nitz, which also got abroad and had its celebrity: this,
as specimen of Friedrich on the comic side, will per-
haps be less afflicting; and it will rid us of Pollnitz,
poor soul, on handsome terms.
