No More Learning

CHAPTER III.
GRAND REVIEW AT STREHLEN: NEIPPEBG TAKES AIM AT
BRESLAU, BUT ANOTHER HITS IT.
A dat or two before that famous Audience of
Hyndford and Robinson's, Neipperg had quitted his
impregnable Camp at Neisse, and taken the field again;
in the hope of perhaps helping Robinson's Negotiation
by an inverse method. Should Robinson's offers not
prove attractive enough, as is to be feared, a push
from behind may have good effects. Neipperg intends
to have a stroke on Breslau; to twitch Breslau out of
Friedrich's hands, by a private manoeuvre on new re-
sources that have offered themselves. *
In Breslau, which is by great majority Protestant
in creed and warmly Prussian in temper, there has been
no oppression or unfair usage heard of to any class of
persons; and certainly in the matter of Protestant and
Catholic, there has been perfect equality observed. True,
the change from favour and ascendency to mere equality,
is not in itself welcome to human creatures: -- one
conceives, for various reasons of lower and higher
nature, a minority of discontented individuals in Breslau,
zealous for their creed and old perquisites sacred and
profane; who long in secret, sometimes vocally to one
another, for the good old times, -- when souls were
not liable to perish wholesale, and people guilty only
of loyalty and orthodoxy to be turned out of their
offices on suspicion. Friedrich says, it was mainly
* Hetden-Geschichte, i. 982, and ii. 227.
4*
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? 52 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book xm.
10th Aug. 1741.
certain zealous Old Ladies of Quality who went into
this adventure; and from whispering to one another,
got into speaking, into meeting in one another's houses
for the purpose of concerning and contriving. * Zealous
Old Ladies of Quality, -- these we consider were the
Talking-Apparatus or Secret-Parliament of the thing:
but it is certain one or two Official Gentlemen (Syndic
Guzmar for instance, and others not yet become Ex-
Official) had active hand in it, and furnished the
practical ideas.
Continual Correspondence there was with Vienna,
by those Old Ladies; Guzmar and the others shy of
putting pen to paper, and only doing it where in-
dispensable. Zealous Addresses go to her Hungarian
Majesty. "Oh, may the Blessed Virgin assist your
Majesty! " -- accompanied it, it is said, with Sub-
scriptions of money (poor old souls); and what is much
more dangerous and feasible, there goes prompt notice
to Neipperg of everything the Prussian Army under-
takes, and the Postscript always, "Come and deliver
us, your Excellency. " Of these latter Documents, I
have heard of some with Syndic Guzmar's and other
Official hands to them. Generally such things can,
through accidental Pandour channels, were there no
other, easily reach Neipperg; though they do not
always. Enough, could Neipperg appear at the Gates
of Breslau, in some concerted night-hour, or push out
suitable Detachment on forced-march that way, -- it
is evident to him he would be let in; might smother
the few Prussians that are in the Dom Island, and get
possession of the Enemy's principal Magazine and the
* CEmres, ii. 82, 83.
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? CHAP. III. ] STREHLEN AND BRESLAU. 53
JOth Aug. 1741.
Metropolis of the Province. Might not the Enemy grow-
more tractable to Robinson's seductions in such case?
Neipperg marches from Neisse (lst-6th August) with
his whole Army; first some thirty miles westward up
the right or southern bank of the Neisse; then crosses
the Neisse, and circles round to northward, giving
Friedrich wide room: * that night of Robinson's Audience,
when Friedrich was so merry at dinner, Neipperg was
engaged in crossing the River; the second night after,
Neipperg lay encamped and entrenched at Baumgarten
(old scene of Friedrich's Pandour Adventure), while
Hyndford and Robinson had got back to Breslau. In
another day or so, he may hope to be within forced-
march of Breslau, to detach Feldmarschall Browne or
some sharp head; and to do a highly considerable
thing?
Unluckily for Neipperg's Adventure, the Prussians
had wind of it, some time ago. They have got "a
false Sister smuggled into that Old-Ladies' Committee",
who has duly reported progress; nay they have inter-
cepted something in Syndic Guzmar's own hand: and
everything is known to Friedrich. The Protestant
population, and generally the practical quiet part of
the Breslauers, are harassed with suspicion of some
such thing, but can gain no certainty, nor understand
what to do. Protestants especially, who have been so
zealous, "who were seen dropping down on the streets
"to pray, while the muffled thunder came from Moll-
"witz that day,"** -- fancy how it would now be,
were the tables suddenly turned, and indignant Ortho-
doxy made supreme again, with memory fresh! But,
in fact, there is no danger whatever to them. Schwerin
* Orlich, i. 130, 133. ** Ranke, ii. 289.
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? 54 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book xni.
10th Aug. 1741.
has orders about Breslau; Schwerin and the Young
Dessauer are maturely considering how to manage.
Headers recollect how Podewils pressed the Two
Britannic Excellencies to stay in Strehlen a day or two
longer: "Grand review, with festivities, just on hand;
whole of the Foreign Ministers in Breslau invited out
to see it," -- though Hyndford and Robinson would
not consent; but left on the 9th, meeting the others at
different points of the road. Next day, Thursday, 10th
August, was in fact a great day at Strehlen; grand
Muster, manoeuvring of cavalry above all, whom
Friedrich is delighted to find so perfect in their new
methods; riding as if they were centaurs, horse and
man one entity; capable of plunging home at full
gallop, in coherent masses upon an enemy, and doing
some good with him. "Neipperg's Croat-people, and
"out-pickets on the distant Hill-sides, witnessed these
"manoeuvres," * I know not with what criticism. Further-
more, about noon time, there was heard (mark it,
reader) a distant cannon-shot, one and no more, from
the Northern side; which gave his Majesty a lively
pleasure, though he treated it as nothing. AH the
Foreign Ministers were on the ground; doubtless with
praises, so far as receivable; and in the afternoon came
festivities not a few. A great day in Strehlen: --but
in Breslau a much greater; which explained, to our
Two Excellencies, why Podewils had been so pressing!
August 10th, at six in the morning, Schwerin, and
under him the Young Dessauer, -- who had arrived
in the South-Western suburbs of Breslau overnight,
with 8,000 foot and horse, and had posted themselves
* Ranke, ii. 288.
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? CHAP. in. ] STREHLEN AND BRESLAU. 55
10th Aug. 1741.
in a vigilant Anti-Neipperg manner there, and laid all
their plans, -- appear at the Nicolai Gate; and demand,
in the common way, transit for their regiments and
baggages: "bound Northward," as appears; "to Leubus,"
where something of Pandour sort has fallen out. So
many troops or companies at a time, that is the rule;
one quotity of companies you admit; then close and
bolt, till it have marched across and out at the opposite
Gate; after which, open again for a second lot. But
in this case, -- owing to accident (very unusual) of a
baggage-wagon breaking down, and people hurrying
to help it forward, -- the whole regiment gets in,
escorted as usual by the Townguard. Whole regiment;
and marches, not straight through; but at a certain
corner, strikes off leftward to the Market-place; where,
singular to say, it seems inclined to pause and rearrange
itself a little. Nay, more singular still, other regiments
(owing to like accidents), from other Gates, join it;
and, -- in fact -- "Herr Major of the Townguard, in
the King's name, you are required to ground arms! "
What can the Town jMajor do; Prussian grenadiers,
cannoneers, gravely environing him? He sticks his
sword into the scabbard, an Ex-Town Major; and
Breslau City is become Friedrich's, softly like a move-
ment during drill. *
Not the least mistake occurred. Cannon with case-
shot planted themselves in all the thoroughfares, Horse-
patrols went circulating everywhere; Town-arsenal,
gates, walls, are laid hold of; Townguards all disarmed,
rather "with laughter on their part" than otherwise:
"Majesty perhaps will give us muskets of his own; --
well! " The operation altogether did not last above
? Helien-Ceschichle, i. 982, ii. 227-268; Adelung, ii. 439; Stenzel, iv. 152.
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? 56 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
10th Aug. 1741.
an hour-and-half, and nobody's skin got scratched.
Towards 9 A. m. Schwerin summoned the Town-Dig-
nitaries to their Rathhaus to swear fealty; who at once
complied; and on his stepping out with proposal, to
the general population, of "a cheer for King Friedrich,
Duke of Lower Silesia," the poor people rent the skies
with their "Friedrich and Silesia forever! " which they
repeated, I think, seven times. Upon which Schwerin
fired off his signal-cannon, pointing to the South;
where other posts and cannons took up the sound, and
pushed it forward, till, as we noticed, it got to Fried-
rich in few minutes, on the review-ground at Strehlen;
right welcome to him, among the manceuvrings there.
Protestant Breslau or cordwainer Doblin cannot lament
such a result; still less dare the devout Old Ladies of
Quality openly lament, who are trembling to the heart,
poor old creatures; though no evil came of it to them;
penitent, let off for the fright; checking even their
aspirations henceforth.
Syndic Gutzmar and the peccant Officials being
summoned out to Strehlen, it had been asked of them,
"Do you know this Letter? " Upon which they fell on
their knees, "Ach Ihro Majest&t! " unable to deny their
handwriting; yet anxious to avoid death on the scaffold,
as Friedrich said was usual under such behaviour; and
were sent home, after a few hours of arrest. * Schwerin
(as King's substitute till the King himself one day
arrive) continued to take the Homaging, and to make
the many new arrangements needful. All which went
off in a soft and pleasantly harmonious manner; --
only the Jesuits scrupling a little to swear as yet; and
getting gently sent their ways, with revenues stopt in
? Orlich, i. 134; Hclden-GeschiclUe, ii. 228.
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? CHAP. III. ] STREHLEN AND BRESLATJ. 57
JOth Aug. 1741.
consequence. Otherwise the swearing, which lasted
for several days, was to appearance a joyful process,
and on the part of the general population an enthusiastic
one, aEs lebe Konig Friedrich! " rising to the welkin
with insatiable emphasis, seven times over, on the least
signal given. Neipperg's Adventure, and Orthodox
Female Parliament, have issued in this sadly reverse
manner.
Robinson and Hyndford have to witness these phe-
nomena; Robinson to shoot off for Presburg again, with
the worst news in the world. Queen and Hofraths
have been waiting in agony of suspense, "Will Fried-
rich bargain on those gentle terms, and help us with
100,000 men? " Far from it, my friends; how far!
"My most important intelligence," writes the Russian
Envoy there, some days ago,* "is, that a Bavarian
"War has broken out, that Kur-Baiern is in Passau.
"God grant that Monsieur Robinson may succeed in his
"negotiation! All here are in the completest irresolu-
tion, and total inactivity, till Monsieur Robinson return,
"or at least send news of himself. "
* "5th August 1741," not said to whom (in Ranke, ii. 324n. ).
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? 58 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [bOOK XIII.
16th Aug. - lth Oct. 1741.
CHAPTER IV.
FRIEDRICH TAKES THE FIELD AGAIN, INTENT ON HAVING
NEISSE.
This Breslau Adventure, which had yielded Friedrich
so important an acquisition, was furthermore the cause
of ending these Strehlen inactivities, and of recom-
mencing field operations. August 11th, Neipperg, pro-
voked by the grievous news just come from Breslau,
pushes suddenly forward on Schweidnitz, by way of
consolation; Schweidnitz, not so strong as it might be
made, where the Prussians have a principal Magazine:
"One might at least seize that? " thinks Neipperg in
his vexed humour. But here too Friedrich was before-
hand with him; broke out, rapidly enough, to Reiehen-
bach, westward, which bars the Neipperg road to
Schweidnitz: upon which, -- or even before which (on
rumour of it coming, which was not yet true), -- Neip-
perg, half-done with his first day's march, called halt;
prudently turned back, and hastened, Baumgarten
way, to his strong Camp ^t Frankenstein again. His
hope in the Schweidnitz direction had lasted only a
few hours; a hope springing on the mere spur of
pique, soon recognisable by him as futile; and now
anxieties for self-preservation had succeeded it on
Neipperg's part. For now Friedrich actually advances
on him, in a menacing manner, hardly hoping Neip-
perg will fight; but determined to have done with the
Neisse business, in spite of strong camps and cuncta-
tions, if it be possible. *
* Orlich, I. 137, 138.
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? CHAP. IT. ] FRIEDRICH STARTS AGAIN FOB NEISSE. 59
11th Sept. 1741.
It was August 16th, when Friedrich stirred out of
Strehlen; August 21st, when he encamped at Reichen-
bach. Till September 7th, he kept manoeuvring upon
Neipperg, who counter-manoeuvred with vigilance, good
judgment, and would not come to action: September
7th, Friedrich, weary of these hagglings, dashed off for
Neisse itself, hoped to be across Neisse River, and be
between Neisse Town and Neipperg, before Neipperg
could get up. There would then be no method of
preventing the Siege of Neisse, except by a Battle: so
Friedrich had hoped; but Neipperg again proved vigilant.
^Accordingly, September 11th, Friedrich's Vanguard
was actually across the Neisse; had crossed at a place
called "Woitz, and had there got Two Pontoon Bridges
ready, when Friedrich, in the evening, came up with
the main Army, intending to cross; -- and was
astonished to find Neipperg taking up position, in in-
tricate ground, near by, on the opposite side!
Ground
so intricate, hills, bogs, bushes of wood, and so close
upon the Biyer, there was no crossing possible; and
Friedrich's Vanguard had to be recalled. Two days
of waiting, of earnest ocular study; no possibility
visible. On the third day, Friedrich, gathering in his
pontoons overnight, marched off, down stream, Neisse-
wards, but on the left or north bank of the River;
passed Neisse Town (the River between him and it);
and encamped at Gross Neundorf, several miles from
Neipperg and the River. Neipperg, at an equal step,
has been wending towards his old Camp, which lies
behind Neisse, between Neisse and the Hills: there, a
river in front, dams and muddy inundations all round
him, begirt with plentiful Pandours, Neipperg waits
what Friedrich will attempt from Gross Neundorf.
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? 60 FIBST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIIL
25th Sept. 1741.
From Gross Neundorf, Friedrich persists twelve
days (13th-25th September), studying, endeavouring;
mere impossibility ahead. And by this time (what is
much worth noting), Hyndford, silently quitting Breslau,
has got back to these scenes of war, occasionally
visible in Friedrich's Camp again; -- on important
mysterious business; which will have results. Valori
also is here in Camp; these two Excellencies jealously
eyeing one another; both of them with teeth rather on
edge, -- Europe having suddenly got into such a
plunge (as if the highest mountains were falling into
the deepest seas), since Friedrich began this Neipperg
problem of his; -- in which, after twelve days, he sees
mere impossibility ahead.
On the twelfth day, Friedrich privately collects
himself for a new method; marches, soon after mid-
night, * fifteen miles down the River (which goes north-
ward in this part, as the reader may remember);
crosses, with all his appurtenances, unmolested; and
takes camp a few miles inland, or on the right bank,
and facing towards Neisse again. He intends to be in
upon Neipperg from the rear quarter; and cut him off
from Mahren and his daily convoys of food. "Daily
food cut off, -- the thickest-skinned rhinoceros, the
wildest lion, cannot stand that: here, for Neipperg, is
one point on which all his embankments and mud-
dams will not suffice him! " thinks Friedrich. Certain
preliminary operations, and military indispensabilities,
there first are for Friedrich, -- Town of Oppeln to be
got, which commands the Oder, our rearward highway;
Castle of Friedland, and the country between Oder and
Neisse Rivers: -- while these preliminary things are
* 26th September, 2 a. m. : Orlich, i. 144.
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? chap. it] friedrich starts again for nbissk. 61
tth Oct. 1741.
being done (September 28th--October 3d), Friedrich
in person gradually pushes forward towards Neipperg,
reconnoitring, bickering with Croats: October 3d pre-
liminaries done, Neipperg's rear had better look to itself.
'^Neipperg, well enough seeing what was meant,
has by this time come out of his mud-dams and im-
pregnabilities; and advanced a few miles towards
Friedrich. Neipperg lies now encamped in the Hamlet
of Greisau, a little way behind Steinau, -- poor
Steinau, which the reader saw on fire one night, when
Friedrich and we were in those parts, in Spring last.
Friedrich's Camp is about five miles from Neipperg's
on the other side of Steinau. A tolerable champaign
country; I should think, mostly in stubble at this
season. Nearly midway between these two Camps is a
pretty Schloss called Klein-Schnellendorf, occupied by
Neipperg's Croats just now, of which Prince Lob-
kowitz (he, if I remember, but it matters nothing), an
Austrian General of mark, far away at present, is pro-
prietor.
Friedrich's Oppeln preparations are about complete;
and he intends to advance straightway. "Hold, for
Heaven's sake, your Majesty! " exclaims Hyndford;
getting hold of him one day (waylaying him, in fact;
for it is difficult, owing to Valori); "Wait, wait; I
have just been to the -- to the Camp of Neipperg,"
silently gesticulates Hyndford: "Within a week all
shall be right, and not a drop of blood shed! "
Friedrich answers, by silence chiefly, to the effect,
"Tush, tush;" but not quite negatively, and does in
effect wait. We had better give the snatch of Dialogue
in primitive authentic form; date is, Camp of Neundorf,
October 4th:
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? 62 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
16th Aug. --4th Oct. 1741.
"Friedrich (pausing impatiently, on the way towards his
"tent). 'Milord, de quoi s'agit-il a present (What is it now,
"then)? '
"Hyndford. 'Should much desire to have some assurance
"from your Majesty with regard to that neutrality of Hanover
"you were pleased to promise. ' All else is coming right;
"hastening towards beautiful settlement, were that settled.
"Friedrich. 'Have not I great reason to be dissatisfied
"with your Court? Britannic Majesty as King of England and
"as Elector of Hanover, is wonderful! Milord, when you say
"a thing is white, Schweichelt, the Hanoverian Excellency,
"calls it black, and vice versa. But 1 will do your King no
"harm; none, I say! Follow me to dinner; dinner is cold by
"this time; and we have made more than one person think of
"us. Swift! " (and exit). *
This is a strange motion on the part of Hyndford;
but Friedrich, severely silent to it, understands it very
well; as readers soon will, when they hear farther. But
marvellous things have happened on the sudden! In
these three weeks, since the Camp of Strehlen broke
up, there have been such Events; strategic, diplomatic:
a very avalanche of ruin, hurling Austria down to the
Nadir; -- of which it is now fit that the reader have
some faint conception, an adequate not being possible
for him or me:
"August Iblh, 1741. Robinson re-appears inPresburg; and
"precious surely are the news he brings to an Aulic Council
"fallen back in its chairs, and staring with the wind struck out
"of it. Their expected Seizure of Breslau gone heels over
"head, in that way; Friedrich imperiously resolute, gleaming
"like the flash of' steel amid these murky imbecilities, and
'' without the Cession of Silesia no Peace to be made with him!
"And all this is as nothing, to news which arrives just on the
"back of Robinson, from another quarter.
"August 15lh-2lst. French Army of 40,000 men, special
"Army of Belleisle, sedulously equipt and completed, visibly
* Hyndford's Despatch, Neisae, 4th October 1741.
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? CHAP. IV. ] FRIEDRICH STARTS AGAIN FOR NEISSE 63
16th Aug. --4th Oct. 1741.
"crosses the Rhine at Fort Louis (an Island Fortress in the
"Khine, thirty miles below Strasburg; stones of it are from the
"oldSchlos8 ofHagenau); -- steps over deliberately there;
"and on the sixth day is all on German ground. These troops,
"to be commanded by Belleisle, so soon as he can join them,
"are to be the Elector of Bavaria's troops, Kur-Baiern Gene-
"ralissimo over Belleisle and them;* and they are on rapid
"march to join that ambitious Kurfiirst, in his Passau Expe-
"dition; and probably submerge Vienna itself.
"And what is this we hear farther, 0 Robinson, 0 Ex-
cellencies Hyndford, Schweichelt and Company: That
"another French Army, of the same strength, under Maille-
"bois, has in the self-same days gone across the Lower Rhine
"(at Kaisersworth, an hours ride below Diisseldorf)! At
"Kaisersworth; ostensibly for comforting and strengthening
"Kur-K61n (the lanky Ecclesiastical Gentleman, Kur-Baiern^
"Brother) their excellent ally, should anybody meddle with
"him. Ostensibly for this; but in reality to keep the Sea-
"Powers, and especially George of England quiet. It marches
"towards Osnabruck, this Maillebois Army; quarters itself up
"and down, looking over into Hanover, -- able to eat Hano-
"ver, especially if joined by the Prussians and Old Leopold,
"at any moment.
"These things happen in this month of August, close upon
"the rear of that steel-shiny scene in the Tent at Strehlen,
"where Friedrich lifted his hat, saying, ''Tis of no use,
"Messieurs! ' -- which was followed by the seizure of Breslau
"the wrong way. Never came such a cataract of evil news on
"an Aulic Council before. The poor proud people, all these
"months they have been sitting torpid, helpless, loftily stupid,
"like dumb idols; 'in flat despair,' as Robinson says once,
'"only without the strength to be desperate. '
"Sure enough the Sea-Powers are checkmated now. Let
"them make the least attempt in favour of the Queen, if they
"dare. Holland can be overrun, from Osnabruck quarter, at
"a day's warning. Little George has his Hanoverians, his
"subsidized Hessians, Danes, in Hanover, his English on
"Lexden Heath: let him come one step over the marches,
"Maillebois and the Old Dessauer swallow him. It is a sur-
prising stroke of theatrical-practical Art; brought about, to
* Fastes de Louis XV, ii. 264.
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? 64 FIBST SILESIAN WAS ENDS. [book XIII.
16th Aug. --4th Oct. 1741.
"old Fleury's sorrow, by the genius of Belleisle, and they say
"of Madame Chateauroux; enough to strike certain Governing
"Persons breathless, for some time; and denotes that the Uni-
"versal Hurricane, or World-Tornado, has broken out. It is
"not recorded of little George that he fell back in his chair,
"or stared wider than usual with those fish-eyes: but he dis-
"cerned well, glorious little man, that here is left no shadow
"of a chance by fighting; that he will have to sit stock-still,
"under awful penalties; and that if Maria Theresa will escape
"destruction, she must make her peace with Friedrich at any
"price. "
This fine event, 80,000 French actually across the
Rhine, happened in the very days while Friedrich and
Neipperg had got into wrestle again, -- Neipperg just
off from that rash march for Schweidnitz, and whirling
back on rumour (15th August), while the first instal-
ment of the French were getting over. Friedrich must
admit that the French fulfil their promises, so far. A
week ago or more, they made the Swedes declare War
against Russia, as covenanted. War is actually de-
clared, at Stockholm, August 4th, the Faction of Hats
prevailing over that of Nightcaps, after terrible debates
and efforts about the mere declaring of it, as if that
alone were the thing needed. We mentioned this War
already, and would not willingly again. One of the
most contemptible Wars ever declared or carried on;
but useful to Friedrich, as keeping Russia off his hands,
at a critical time, and conclusively forbidding help to
Austria from that quarter.
Mare'chal de Belleisle, wrapt in Diplomatic and
Electioneering business, cannot personally take com-
mand for the present; but has excellent lieutenants, --
one of whom is Comte de Saxe, Moritz our old friend,
afterwards Mare'chal de Saxe. Among the finest French
Armies, this of Belleisle's is thought to be, that ever
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? CHAP. IV. J FRIEDRICH STARTS AGAIN FOR NEISSE. 65
16tU Aug. --4th Oct. 1741.
took the field: so many of our Nobility in it, and what
best Officers, Segurs, Saxes, future Marshals, we have.
Army full of spirit and splendour; come to cut Ger-
many in Four, and put France at last in its place in
the Universe. Here is courage, here is patriotism, of
a sort. And if this is not the good sort, the divinely
pious, the humanly noble, -- Fashionable Society feels
it to be so, and can hit no nearer. New-fashioned
"Army of the Oriflamme," one might call this of Belle-
isle's; kind of Sham-Sacred French Army (quite in
earnest, as it thinks); -- led on, not by St. Denis and
the Virgin, but by Sungod Belleisle and the Chateauroux,
under these sad new conditions! Which did not prosper
as expected.
"Let the Holy German Reich take no offence,"
said this Army, eager to conciliate: "we come as
friends merely; our intentions charitable, and that only.
Bavarian Treaty of Nymphenburg (18th May last)
binds us especially, this time; Treaty of Westphalia
binds us sacredly at all times. Peaceable to you, nay
brotherly, if only you will be peaceable! " Which the
poor Reich, all but Austria and the Sea-Powers, strove
what it could to believe.
On reaching the German shore out of Elsass,
"every Officer put the Bavarian Colours, cockade of
"blue-and-white, on his hat;"* -- a mere "Bavarian
Army," don't you see? And the 40,000 wend steadily
forward through Schwaben eastward, till they can join
Karl Albert Kur-Baiern, who is Generalissimo, or has
the name of such. They march in Seven Divisions.
Donauworth (a Town we used to know, in Marlborough's
time and earlier) is to be their first resting-point;
* Adeluog, ii. 431.
Carij'e. Frederick the Great. VII. 5
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? 66 FIRST SILESIAN WAR ENDS. [book XIII.
16th Aug. --4th Oct. 1741.
Ingolstadt their place-of-arms: will readers recollect
those two essential circumstances. To Donauworth is
250 miles; to Passau will be 180 more: five or six
long weeks of marching. But after Donauworth they
are to go, the Infantry of them are, in boats; Horse,
under Saxe, marching parallel. Forward, ever forward,
to Passau (properly to Scharding, twelve miles up the
Inn Valley, where his Bavarian Highness is in Camp);
and thence, under his Bavarian Highness, and in con-
cert with him, to pour forth, deluge-like, upon Linz,
probably upon Vienna itself, down the Donau Valley,
-- why not to Vienna itself, and ruin Austria at one
swoop? *
The second or Maillebois French Army spreads
itself, by degrees, considerably over Westphalia; --
straitened for forage, and otherwise not the best of
neighbours. But, in theory, in speech, this too was
abundantly conciliatory, -- to the Dutch at least.
"Nothing earthly in view, nothing, ye magnanimous
Dutch, except to lodge here in the most peaceable
manner, paying our way, and keep down disturbances
that might arise in these parts. That might arise, --
not from you, ye magnanimous High Mightinesses, how
far from it! Nor will we meddle with one broken brick
of your respectable Barrier, or Barrier Treaty, which
is sacred to us, or do you the shadow of an injury.
* Espagnac, Hisloirc de Maurice Comte de Saxe (German Translation,
Leipzig, 1774), i. 83: -- an excellent military compend. Compazines des
Trois Marechaux (Maillebois, Broglio, Belleisle: Amsterdam', 1773), ii.
53-56: -- in nine handy little volumes (or if we include the Noailles and the
Coignii set, making "Cinq Marechaux" nineteen volumes in all, and a
twentieth for Index); consisting altogether of Official Letters (brief, rapid,
meant for business, not for printing in the Newspapers); which are elucida-
tive beyond bargain, and would even be amusing to read, -- were the topic
itself worth one's time.
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? CHAP.