" Borck
publishes
his Pro-
clamation, a mild-spoken rigorous Piece; signifies to
the Maaseyk Authorities, That he has to exact a Con-
tribution of 20,000 thalers (3,000/.
clamation, a mild-spoken rigorous Piece; signifies to
the Maaseyk Authorities, That he has to exact a Con-
tribution of 20,000 thalers (3,000/.
Thomas Carlyle
1740.
settled: * but there needed many years more of good
waiting, and of good pushing, on Friedrich Wilhelm's
part; and it was not till 1732 that Friedrich Wilhelm
got the Dutch Heritages,finally brought to the square:
Neuchatel and Valengin, as aforesaid, in lieu of
Orange; and now furthermore, that Old Palace at Loo
(that Vicille Cour and biggest cobwebs), with pertinents,
with Garden of Honslardik; and a string of items,
bigger and less, not worth enumerating. Of the items,
this Herstal was one;-- and truly, so far as this went,
Friedrich Wilhelm often thought he had better never
have seen it, so much trouble did it bring him.
How the Herstallers had behaved to Friedrich
Wilhelm.
The Herstal people, knowing the Prussian recruiting-
system and other rigours, were extremely unwilling to
come under Friedrich Wilhelm's sway, could they have
helped it. They refused fealty, swore they never
would jswear; nor did they, till the appearance, or in-
dubitable foreshine, of Friedrich Wilhelm's bayonets
advancing on them from the East, brought compliance.
And always after, spite of such quasi-fealty, they
showed a pig-like obstinacy of humour; a certain in-
significant, and as it were impertinent, deep-rooted
desire to thwart, irritate and contradict the said Friedrich
Wilhelm. Especially in any recruiting matter that
might arise, knowing that to be the weak side of his
Prussian Majesty. All this would have amounted to
nothing, had it not been that their neighbour, the
* Neuchatel, 3d November 1707, to Friedrich I. , natives preferring him
to "Fifteen other Claimants;" Louis XIV. loudly protesting: not till
Treaty of Utrecht (14th March 1713, first month of Friedrich Wilhelm's
reign} would Louis XIV. , on cession of Orange, consent and sanction.
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? 106 PRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book XI.
4lh-28th Sept. 1740.
Prince Bishop of Liege, who imagined himself to have
some obscure claims of sovereignty over Herstal, and
thought the present a good opportunity for asserting
these, was diligent to aid and abet the Herstal people
in such their mutinous acts. Obscure claims; of which
this is the summary, should the reader not prefer to
skip it:
"The Bishop of Liege's claims on Herstal (which lie wrapt
"from mankind in the extensive jungle of his law-pleadings,
"like a Bedlam happily fallen extinct) seem to me to have
"grown mainly from two facts more or less radical.
"Fact first. In Kaiser Barbarossa's time, year 1171,
"Herstal had been given in pawn to the Church of Liege, for
"a loan, by the then proprietor, Duke of Lorraine and Bra-
"bant. Loan was repaid, I do not learn when, and the Pawn
"given back; to the satisfaction of said Duke, or Duke's
"Heirs; never quite to the satisfaction of the Church, which
"had been in possession, and was loth to quit, after hoping
"to continue. 'Give us back Herstal; it ought to be ours! '
"unappeasable sigh or grumble to this effect is heard thence-
"forth, at intervals, in the Chapter of Liege, and has not
"ceased in Friedrich's time. But as the world, in its loud
"thoroughfares, seldom or never heard, or could hear, such
'' sighing in the Chapter, nothing had come of it, -- till --
"Fact second. In Kaiser Karl V. 's time, the Prince Bishop
"of Lie'ge happened to be a Natural Son of old Kaiser Max's;
"-- and had friends at headquarters, of a very choice nature.
"Had, namely, in this sort, Kaiser Karl for Nephew or
"Half-Nephew; and what perhaps was still better, as nearer
"hand, had Karl's Aunt, Maria Queen of Hungary, then
"Governess of the Netherlands, for Half-Sister. Liege, in
"these choice circumstances, and by other good chances that
"turned up, again got temporary clutch or half-clutch of
"Herstal, for a couple of years (date 1546-'8, the Prince of
"Orange, real proprietor, whose Ancestor had bought it for
"money down, being then a minor); once, and perhaps a
"second time in like circumstance; but had always to re-
nounce it again, when the Prince of Orange came to ma-
"turity. And ever since, the Chapter of Liege sighs as be-
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? CHAP, v. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 107
4th-28th Sept. 1740.
"fore, 'Herstal is perhaps in a sense ours. We had once
"'some kind of right to it! ' -- sigh inaudible in the loud
"public thoroughfares. That is the Bishop's claim. The
"name of him, if anybody care for it, is 'Georg Ludwig,
"'titular Count of Berg,' now a very old man: Bishop of Lidge,
"he, and has been snatching at Herstal again, very eagerly
"by any skirt or tagrag that might happen to fly loose, these
"eight years past, in a rash and provoking manner;* -- age
"eighty-two at present; poor old fool, he had better have sat
"quiet. There lies a rod in pickle for him, during these late
"months; and will be surprisingly laid on, were the time
"come! "
"I have Law Authority over Herstal, and power of
judging there in the last appeal," said this Bishop: --
"You! " thought Friedrich Wilhelm, who was far off,
and had little time to waste. -- "Any Prussian recruiter
that behaves ill, bring him to me! " said the Bishop,
who was on the spot. And accordingly it had been
done; one notable instance two years ago: A Prussian
Lieutenant locked in the Liege jail, on complaint of
riotous Herstal; thereupon a Prussian Officer of rank
(Colonel Kreutzen, worthy old Malplaquet gentleman)
coming as Royal Messenger, not admitted to audience,
nay laid hold of by the Lie'ge bailiff instead; and other
unheard-of procedures. ** So that Friedrich Wilhelm
had nothing but trouble with this petty Herstal, and
mnst have thought his neighbour Bishop a very con-
tentious highflying gentleman, who took great liberties
with the Lion's whiskers, when he had the big animal
at advantage.
The episcopal procedures, eight years ago, about
the First Homaging of Herstal, had been of similar
complexion; nor had other such failed in the interim,
* Micrs dn Pals de Liei)C (Liege, 1738); Belien-Geschichte, ii. 57-62.
llelden-Geschichte, ii. 03-73.
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? 108 FRIEDIilCH TAKES THE REIMS IN HAND. [book. XT.
<<h-28th Sept. 1740.
though this last outrage exceeded them all. This last
began in the end of 1738; and span itself out through
1739, when Friedrich Wilhelm lay in his final sick-
ness, less able to deal with it than formerly. Being a
peaceable man, unwilling to awaken conflagrations for
a small matter, Friedrich Wilhelm had offered, through
Kreutzen on this occasion, to part with Herstal
altogether; to sell it, "for 100,000 thalers," say
16,000/. , to the highflying Bishop, and honestly wash
his hands of it. But the highflying Bishop did not
consent, gave no definite answer; and so the matter
lay, -- like an unsettled extremely irritating paltry
little matter, -- at the time Friedrich Wilhelm died.
The Gazetteers and public knew little about these
particulars, or had forgotten them again; but at the
Prussian Court they were in lively remembrance.
What the young Friedrich's opinion about them had
been we gather from this succinct notice of the thing,
written seven or eight years afterwards, exact in all
points, and still carrying a breath of the old humour
in it. "A miserable Bishop of Lidge thought it a
"proud thing to insult the late King. Some subjects
"of Herstal, which belongs to Prussia, had revolted;
"the Bishop gave them his protection. Colonel
"Kreutzen was sent to Liege, to compose the thing by
"treaty; credentials with him, full power, and all in
"order. Imagine it, the Bishop would not receive him!
"Three days, day after day, he saw this Envoy apply
"at his Palace, and always denied him entrance.
"These things had grown past endurance. "* And
Friedrich had taken note of Herstal along with him,
on this Cleve Journey; privately intending to put
* Prenss, (Euvres (Mem. ie Brandenburg), ii. 53.
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? CHAP. V. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 109
1lh-28th Sept. 1740.
Herstal and thc highflying Bishop on a suitabler foot-
ing, before his return from those countries.
For indeed, on Friedrich's Accession, matters had
grown worse, not better. Of course there was Fealty
to be sworn; but the Herstal people, abetted by the
highflying Bishop, have declined swearing it. Apology
for the past, prospect of amendment for the future,
there is less than ever. What is the young King to
do with this paltry little Hamlet of Herstal? He could,
in theory, go into some Reichs-Hofrath, some Reichs-
Kammergericht (kind of treble and tenfold English
Court-of-Chancery, which has lawsuits 280 years old), --
if he were a theoretic German King. He can plead in
the Diets, and the Wetzlar Reichs-Kammergericht with-
out end: "all German Sovereigns have power to send
"their Ambassador thither, who is like a mastiff chained
"in the backyard" (observes Friedrich elsewhere) "with
"privilege of barking at the Moon," -- unrestricted
privilege of barking at the Moon, if that will avail a
practical man, or King's Ambassador. Or perhaps the
Bishop of Liege will bethink him, at last, what con-
siderable liberty he is taking with some people's
whiskers? Four months are gone; Bishop of Liege has
not in the least bethought him: we are in the neigh-
bourhood in person, with note of the thing in our
memory.
Friedrich takes-the Bod out of PicMe.
Accordingly the Rath Rambonet, whom Voltaire
found at Moyland that Sunday night, had been over at
Liege; went exactly a week before; with this message
of very peremptory tenor from his Majesty:
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? 110 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book XI.
4th-28th Sept. 1740.
To the Prince Bishop of Liege.
"Wesel, 4th September 1740.
"My Cousin, -- Knowing all the assaults (atteintes) made
"by you upon my indisputable rights over my free Barony of
"Herstal; and how the seditious ringleaders there, for several
"years past, have been countenanced (bestarkei) by you in
"their detestable acts of disobedience against me, -- I have
"commanded my Privy Councillor Kambonet to repair to
"your presence, and in my name to require from you, within
"two days, a distinct and categorical answer to this question:
"Whether you are still minded to assert your pretended sover-
"eignty over Herstal; and whether you will protect the rebels
"at Herstal, in their disorders and abominable disobedience?
"In case you refuse, or delay beyond the term, the Answer
"which I hereby of right demand, you will render yourself
"alone responsible, before the world, for the consequences
"which infallibly will follow. I am, with much consideration
"-- My Cousin, --
"Your very affectionate Cousin,
"Fbjedkich. " *
Rambonet had started straightway for Liege, with
this missive; and had duly presented it there, I guess
on the 7th, -- with notice that he would wait forty-
eight hours, and then return with what answer or no-
answer there might be. Getting no written answer, or
distinct verbal one; getting only some vague mumble-
ment as good as none, Rambonet had disappeared from
Liege on the 9th; and was home at Moyland when
Voltaire arrived that Sunday evening, -- just walking
about to come to heat again, after reporting progress
to the above effect.
Rambonet, I judge, enjoyed only one of those
divine Suppers at Moyland; and dashed off again, "on
hired hack" or otherwise, the very next morning; that
contingency of No-answer having been the anticipated
* Helden-Geschichle, ii. 75, 111.
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? CHAP, v. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. Ill
4th-28th Sept. 1740.
one, and all things put in perfect readiness for it.
Kambonet's new errand was to "take act," as Voltaire
calls it, "at the Gates of Liege," -- to deliver at
Liege a succinct Manifesto, Pair of Manifestoes, both
in Print (ready beforehand), and bearing date that
same Sunday, "Wesel, 11th September;" -- much
calculated to amaze his Reverence at Liege. Succinct
good Manifestoes, said to be of Friedrich's own writing;
the essential of the two is this:
Exposition of the Reasons which have induced his Majesty the King
of Prussia to make just Reprisals on the Prince Bishop of Liege.
"His Majesty the King of Prussia, being driven beyond
"boundsby the rude proceedingsof the Prince Bishop ofLiege,
"has with regret seen himself forced to recur to the Method of
"Arms, in order to repress the violence and affront which the
"Bishop has attempted to put upon him. This resolution has
"cost his Majesty much pain; the rather as he is, by principle
"and disposition, far remote from whatever could have the
"least relation to rigour and severity.
"But seeing himself compelled by the Bishop of Lie'ge to
"take new methods, he had no other course but to maintain
"the justice of his'rights (la justice de ses droits), and demand
"reparation for the indignity done upon his Minister Von
"Kreutzen, as well as for the contempt with which the Bishop
"of Lidge has neglected even to answer the Letter of the
"King. g g
"As too much rigour borders upon cruelty, so too much
"patience resembles weakness. Thus, although the King
"would willingly have sacrificed his interests to the public
"peace and tranquillity,it was not possible to do so in reference
"to his honour; and that is the chief motive which has de-
"termined him to this resolution, so contrary to his inten-
"tions.
"In vain has it been attempted, by methods of mildness,
"to come to a friendly agreement: it has been found, on the
"contrary, that the King's moderation only increased the
"Prince's arrogance; that mildness of conduct on one side
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? 112 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book XL
11th Sept. 1740.
"only furnished resources to pride on the other; and that, in
"fine, instead of gaining by soft procedure, one was insen-
"sibly becoming an object of vexation and disdain.
"There being no means to have justice but in doing it for
"oneself, and the King being Sovereign enough for such a
"duty, -- he intends to make the Prince of Liege feel how far
"he was in the wrong to abuse such moderation so unworthily.
"But in spite of so much unhandsome behaviour on the part
"of this Prince, the King will not be inflexible; satisfied with
"having shown the said Prince that he can punish him, and
"too just to overwhelm him.
"FRiD^RIC. "*
"Wesel, September 11th, 1740. "
Whether Rambonet insinuated his Paper-Packet into
the Palace of Seraing, left it at the Gate of Liege (fixed
by nail, if he saw good), or in what manner he "took
act," I never knew; and, indeed, Rambonet vanishes
from human History at this point: it is certain only
that he did his Formality, say two days hence; -- and
that the Fact foreshadowed by it is likewise in the
same hours, hour after hour, getting steadily done.
For the Manifestoes printed beforehand, dated
Wesel, 11th September, were not the only thing ready
at Wesel; waiting, as on the slip, for the contingency
of No-answer. Major-General Borck, with the due
battalions, squadrons and equipments, was also ready.
Major-General Borck, the same who was with us at
Baireuth lately, had just returned from that journey,
when he got orders to collect 2,000 men, horse and
foot, with the due proportion of artillery, from the
Prussian Garrisons in these parts; and to be ready for
marching with them, the instant the contingency of
* Hclden Getchichle, ii. 77. Snid to be by Friedrich himself (Stenzt),
iv. 59).
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? CHAP, v. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 113
Uth Sept. 1740.
No-answer arrives, -- Sunday, 11th, as can be fore-
seen. Borck knows his route: To Maaseyk, a respect-
able Town of the Bishop's, the handiest for Wesel; to
occupy Maaseyk and the adjoining "Counties of Lotz
and Horn;" and lie there at the Bishop's charge till his
Reverence's mind alter.
Borck is ready, to the last pontoon, the last muni-
tion-loaf; and no sooner is signal given of the No-
answer come, than Borck, that same "Sunday, 11th,"
gets under way; marches, steady as clock-work, to-
wards Maaseyk (fifty miles southwest of him, distance
now lessening every hour); crosses the Maas, by help
of his pontoons; is now in the Bishop's Territory, and
enters Maaseyk, evening of "Wednesday, 14th," --
that very day Voltaire and his Majesty had parted,
going different ways from Moyland; and probably about
the same hour while Rambonet was "taking act at the
'Gate of Lidge," by nail-hammer or otherwise. All,
goes punctual, swift, cog hitting pinion far and near,
in this small Herstal Business; and there is no mistake
made, and a minimum of time spent.
Borck's management was throughout good: punctual,
quietly exact, polite, mildly inflexible. Fain would
the Maaseyk Town-Raths have shut their gates on
him; desperately conjuring him, "Respite for a few
hours, till we send to Lidge for instructions! " But it
was to no purpose. "Unbolt, ihr Herren; swift, or the
petard will have to do it!
" Borck publishes his Pro-
clamation, a mild-spoken rigorous Piece; signifies to
the Maaseyk Authorities, That he has to exact a Con-
tribution of 20,000 thalers (3,000/. ) here, Contribution
payable in three days; that he furthermore, while he
continues in these parts, will need such and such
Corljic, Frederick the Great. VI. 8
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? 114 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE KEINS IN HAND. [bOOK XI.
14th Sept. 1740.
rations, accommodations, allowances, -- "fifty louis
(say guineas) daily for his own private expenses," one
item; -- and, in mild rhadamanthine language, waves
aside all remonstrance, refusal or delay, as superfluous
considerations: Unless said Contribution and required
supplies come in, it will be his painful duty to bring
them in. *
The highflying Bishop, much astonished, does now
eagerly answer his Prussian Majesty, "Was from home,
was ill, thought he had answered; is the most ill-used
of Bishops;" and other things of a hysteric character. **
And there came forth, as natural to the situation, mul-
titudinous complainings, manifestoings, applications to
the Kaiser, to the French, to the Dutch, of a very
shrieky character on the Bishop of Liege's part;
sparingly, if at all noticed on Friedrich's: the whole of
which we shall consider ourselves free to leave undis-
turbed in the rubbish-abysses, as henceforth conceivable
to the reader. uScd spem stupende fefellit eventus,"
shrieks the poor old Bishop, making moan to the Kaiser:
"ecce enim, prcemissa duntaxat one Letter," and little
more, "the said King of Borussia has, with about
"2,000 horse and foot, and warlike engines, in this
"month of September, entered theTerritory of Lidge;"*
which is an undeniable truth, but an unavailing. Borck
is there, and "2,000 good arguments with him," as
Voltaire defines the phenomenon. Friedrich, except to
explain pertinently what my readers already know,
does not write or speak farther on the subject; and
readers and he may consider the Herstal Affair, thus
* Helden-Geschichle, i. 427; ii. 113.
** Ibid. ii. 85, SO (date, lGth September).
*** Hcldea-Geschichte, ii. p. 88.
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? CHAP, v. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 115
14th Sept. 1740.
set agoing under Borck's auspices, as in effect finished;
and that his Majesty has left it on a satisfactory foot-
ing, and* may safely turn his back on it, to wait the
sure issue at Berlin before long.
What Voltaire thought of Herstal.
Voltaire told us he himself "did one Manifesto,
good or bad," on this Herstal Business: -- where is
that Piece, then, what has become of it? Dig well in
the realms of Chaos, rectifying stupidities more or less
enormous, the Piece itself is still discoverable; and,
were pieces by Voltaire less a rarity than they are,
might be resuscitated by a good Editor, and printed in
his Works. Lies buried in the lonesome rubbish-moun-
tains of that Helden-Geschichte, -- let a Siste Viator,
scratched on the surface, mark where. * Apparently
that is the Piece by Voltaire? Yes, on reading that,
it has every internal evidence; distinguishes itself from
the surrounding pieces, like a slab of compact polished
stone, in a floor rammed together out of ruinous old
bricks, broken bottles and mortar-dust; -- agrees, too,
if you examine by the miscroscope, with the external
indications, which are sure and at last clear, though
infinitesimally small; and is beyond doubt Voltaire's,
if it were now good for much.
It is not properly a Manifesto, but an anonymous
Memoir published in the Newspapers, explaining to
impartial mankind, in a legible brief manner, what the
old and recent History of Herstal, and the Troubles of
Herstal, have been, and how chimerical and "null to
the extreme of nullity (nulles de toute nullite)" this poor
* Helden-Geschichte, ii. pp. 93-98.
8*
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? 116 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book XL
4th-28th Sept. 174U.
Bishop's pretensions upon it are. Voltaire expressly
piques himself on this Piece; * brags also how he
settled "M. de Fdndlon" (French Ambassador at the
Hague), "who came to me the day before yesterday,"
much out of square upon the Herstal Business, till I
pulled him straight. And it is evident (beautifully so,
your Majesty) how Voltaire busied himself in the Ga-
zettes and Diplomatic circles, setting Friedrich's case
right; Voltaire very loyal to Friedrich and his Liege
Cause at that time; -- and the contrast between what
his contemporary Letters say on the subject, and what
his ulterior Pasquil called Vie Prive'e says, is again
great.
The dull stagnant world, shaken awake by this
Lie^ge adventure, gives voice variously; and in the
G-azetteer and Diplomatic circles it is much criticised,
by no means everywhere in the favourable tone at this
first blush of the business. "He had written an Anti-
Machiavel," says the Abbd St. Pierre, and even says
Voltaire (in the Pasquil, not the contemporary Letters),
"and he acts thus! " Truly he does, Monsieur de Vol-
taire; and all men, with light upon the subject, or even
with the reverse upon it, must make their criticisms.
For the rest, Borck's "2,000 arguments" are there;
which Borck handles well, with polite calm rigour: by
degrees the dust will fall, and facts everywhere be seen
for what they are.
As to the highflying Bishop, finding that hysterics
are but wasted on Friedrich and Borck, and produce
* Letter to Friedrich! dateless, dateable "soon after 17th September;"
which the rash dark Editors have by guess misdated "August;" or, what
was safer for them, omitted altogether. (F. uvres de Voltaire (Paris, 1818,
40 voll. ) gives the Letter, xxxix. 442 (see also Ibid. 453, 463); later Editors,
and even Preuss, take the safer course.
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? CHAP. V. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 117
4th-28th Sept. 1740.
no effect with their 2,000 validities, he flies next to
the Kaiser, to the Imperial Diet, in shrill-sounding
Latin obtestations, of which we already gave a flying
snatch: "Your humilissimus and fldelissimm Vassallus,
and most obsequent Servant, Georgius Ludovicus;
meek, modest, and unspeakably in the right: was ever
Member of the Holy Roman Empire so snubbed, and
grasped by the windpipe, before? 0, help him, great
Kaiser, bid the iron gripe loosen itself! " * The Kaiser
does so, in heavy Latin rescripts, in German Dehorta-
toriums more than one, of a sulky, imperative, and in-
deed very lofty tenor; "Let Georgius Ludovicus go,
foolish rash young Dilection (Liebden, not Majesty, we
ourselves being the only Majesty), and I will judge
between you; otherwise --! " said the Kaiser, ponder-
ously shaking his Olympian wig, and lifting his gilt
cane, or sceptre of mankind, in an Olympian manner.
Here are some touches of his second sublimest Dehorta-
torium addressed to Friedrich, in a very compressed
state: **
We Karl the Sixth, Kaiser of (Titles enough), * * * "Con-
sidering these, in the Holy Roman Reich, almost unheard-
"of violent Doings (Thatlichkeiten), which We, in Our
"Supreme-Judge Office, cannot altogether justify, nor will
"endure We have the trust that you yourself will mag-
nanimously see How evil counsellors have misled your Dilec-
"tion to commence your Reign, not by showing example of
"Obedience to the Laws appointed for all members of the
"Reich, for the weak and for the strong alike, but by such
"Doings (Thathandlungen) as in all quarters must cause a
"great surprise.
"We give your Dilection to know, therefore, That you
"must straightway withdraw those troops which have broken
* Uclden-Geschichte, ii. 86-116.
** Ibid. ii. 127; a first and milder (ibid. 73).
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? 118 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book II.
4th-28th Sept. 1710.
"into the Liege Territory; make speedy restitution of all that
"has been extorted; -- especially General von Borcktogive
"back at once those 50 louis-d'or daily drawn by him, to re-
"nounce his demand of the 20,000 thalers, to make good all
"damage done, and retire with his whole military force
"(Militz) over the Lidge boundaries; -- and in brief that you
"will, by law or arbitration, manage to agree with the Prince
"Bishop of Lidge, who wishes it very much. These things
"We expect from your Dilection, as Kurfurst of Branden-
"burg, within the space of Two Months from the Issuing of
"this; and remain,"'--Yours as you shall demean yourself.
"-- Karl.
"Given at Wien, 4th of Oct. 1740. " -- The last Dehorta-
torium ever signed by Karl VI. In two weeks after, he ate
too many mushrooms, -- and immense results followed!
Dehortatoriums had their interest, at Berlin and
elsewhere, for the Diplomatic circles; but did not pro-
duce the least effect on Borck or Friedrich; though
Friedrich noted the Kaiser's manner in these things,
and thought privately to himself, as was evident to the
discerning, "What an amount of wig on that old
gentleman! " A notable Kaiser's Ambassador, Hen
Botta, who had come with some Accession compliments,
in these weeks, was treated slightingly by Friedrich;
hardly admitted to Audience; and Friedrich's public
reply to the last Dehortatorium had almost something
of sarcasm in it: Evil counsellors, yourself, Most Dread
Kaiser! It is you that are "misled by counsellors,
"who might chance to set Germany on fire, were
"others as unwise as they! " Which latter phrase was
remarkable to mankind. -- There is a long account
already run up between that old gentleman, with his
Seckendorfs, Grumkows, with his dull insolencies,
wiggeries, and this young gentleman, who has nearly
had his heart broken and his Father's house driven
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? CHAP, v. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 119
4th-28th Sept. 1740.
mad by them! Borck remains at his post; rations duly
delivered, and fifty louis a day for his own private
expenses; and there is no answer to the Kaiser, or in
sharp brief terms (about "chances of setting Germany
on fire"), rather worse than none.
Readers see, as well as Friedrich did, what the
upshot of this Affair must be; -- we will now finish it
off, and wash our hands of it, before following his
Majesty to Berlin. The poor Bishop had applied,
shrieking, to the French for help; -- and there came
some colloquial passages between Voltaire and Fdnelon,
if that were a result. He had shrieked in like manner
to the Dutch, but without result of any kind traceable
in that quarter: nowhere, except from the Kaiser, is so
much as a Dehortatorium to be got. Whereupon the
once highflying, now vainly shrieking Bishop discerns
clearly that there is but one course left, -- the course
which has lain wide open for some years past, had not
his flight gone too high for seeing it. Before three
weeks are over, seeing how Dehortatoriums go, he
sends his Ambassadors to Berlin, his apologies, pro-
posals:* "Would not your Majesty perhaps consent
to sell this Herstal, as your Father of glorious memory
was pleased to be willing once? " --
Friedrich answers straightway to the effect: "Cer-
tainly! Pay me the price it was once already offered
for: 100,000 thalers, plus the expenses since incurred.
That will be 180,000 thalers, besides what you have
spent already on General Borck's days' wages. To
which we will add that wretched little fraction of Old
* Ambassadors arrived, 28th September; last Dehortatorium not yet
oat. Business was completed, 20th October (R6'denbeck in diebns).
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? 120 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book XI.
28th Sept. 1740.
Debt, clear as noon, but never paid nor any part of
it; 60,000 thalers, due by the See of Liege ever since
the Treaty of Utrecht; 60,000, for which we will
charge no interest: that will make 240,000 thalers, --
36,000/. , instead of the old sum you might have had
it at. Produce that cash; and take Herstal, and all
the dust that has risen out of it, well home with you. "*
The Bishop thankfully complies in all points; negotia-
tion speedily done ("20th Oct. " the final date): Bishop
has not, I think, quite so much cash on hand; but will
pay all he has, and 4 per centum interest till the
whole be liquidated. His Ambassadors "get gold snuff-
boxes;" and return mildly glad.
And thus, in some six weeks after Borck's arrival
in those parts, Borck's function is well done. The noise
of Gazettes and Diplomatic circles lays itself again;
and Herstal, famous once for King Pipin, and famous
again for King Friedrich, lapses at length into ob-
scurity, which we hope will never end. Hope; --
though who can say? Eoucoux, quite close upon it, be-
comes a Battle-ground in some few years; and memora-
bilities go much at random in this world!
* Stenzel, It. 60, who counts in gulden, and Is not distinct.
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? CHAP. VI ]
121
ROYAL UNCLE AT HANOVER.
16th Sept. 1740.
CHAPTER VI.
RETURNS BY HANOVER; DOES NOT CALL ON HIS ROYAL
UNCLE THERE.
Freedrich spent ten days on his circuitous journey
home; considerable inspection to be done, in Minden,
Magdeburg, not to speak of other businesses he had.
The old Newspapers are still more intent upon him,
now that the Herstal Affair has broken into flame:
especially the English Newspapers; who guess that
there are passages of courtship going on between great
George their King and him. Here is one fact, correct
in every point, for the old London Public: "Letters
"from Hanover say, that the King of Prussia passed
"within a small distance of that City the 16th inst.
"n. s. , on his return to Berlin, but did not stop at
"Herrenhausen;" -- about which there has been such
hoping and speculating among us lately. * A fact
which the extinct Editor seems to meditate for a day
or two; after which he says (partly in italics), opening
his lips the second time, like a Friar Bacon's Head
significant to the Public: "Letters from Hanover tell
"us that the Interview, which it was said his Majesty
"was to have with the King of Prussia, did not take
"place, for certain private reasons, which our Cor-
respondent leaves us to guess at! "
It is well known Eriedrich did not love his little
* Daily Post, 22<J Sept. 1740; other London Newspapers from July 31st
downwards.
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settled: * but there needed many years more of good
waiting, and of good pushing, on Friedrich Wilhelm's
part; and it was not till 1732 that Friedrich Wilhelm
got the Dutch Heritages,finally brought to the square:
Neuchatel and Valengin, as aforesaid, in lieu of
Orange; and now furthermore, that Old Palace at Loo
(that Vicille Cour and biggest cobwebs), with pertinents,
with Garden of Honslardik; and a string of items,
bigger and less, not worth enumerating. Of the items,
this Herstal was one;-- and truly, so far as this went,
Friedrich Wilhelm often thought he had better never
have seen it, so much trouble did it bring him.
How the Herstallers had behaved to Friedrich
Wilhelm.
The Herstal people, knowing the Prussian recruiting-
system and other rigours, were extremely unwilling to
come under Friedrich Wilhelm's sway, could they have
helped it. They refused fealty, swore they never
would jswear; nor did they, till the appearance, or in-
dubitable foreshine, of Friedrich Wilhelm's bayonets
advancing on them from the East, brought compliance.
And always after, spite of such quasi-fealty, they
showed a pig-like obstinacy of humour; a certain in-
significant, and as it were impertinent, deep-rooted
desire to thwart, irritate and contradict the said Friedrich
Wilhelm. Especially in any recruiting matter that
might arise, knowing that to be the weak side of his
Prussian Majesty. All this would have amounted to
nothing, had it not been that their neighbour, the
* Neuchatel, 3d November 1707, to Friedrich I. , natives preferring him
to "Fifteen other Claimants;" Louis XIV. loudly protesting: not till
Treaty of Utrecht (14th March 1713, first month of Friedrich Wilhelm's
reign} would Louis XIV. , on cession of Orange, consent and sanction.
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? 106 PRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book XI.
4lh-28th Sept. 1740.
Prince Bishop of Liege, who imagined himself to have
some obscure claims of sovereignty over Herstal, and
thought the present a good opportunity for asserting
these, was diligent to aid and abet the Herstal people
in such their mutinous acts. Obscure claims; of which
this is the summary, should the reader not prefer to
skip it:
"The Bishop of Liege's claims on Herstal (which lie wrapt
"from mankind in the extensive jungle of his law-pleadings,
"like a Bedlam happily fallen extinct) seem to me to have
"grown mainly from two facts more or less radical.
"Fact first. In Kaiser Barbarossa's time, year 1171,
"Herstal had been given in pawn to the Church of Liege, for
"a loan, by the then proprietor, Duke of Lorraine and Bra-
"bant. Loan was repaid, I do not learn when, and the Pawn
"given back; to the satisfaction of said Duke, or Duke's
"Heirs; never quite to the satisfaction of the Church, which
"had been in possession, and was loth to quit, after hoping
"to continue. 'Give us back Herstal; it ought to be ours! '
"unappeasable sigh or grumble to this effect is heard thence-
"forth, at intervals, in the Chapter of Liege, and has not
"ceased in Friedrich's time. But as the world, in its loud
"thoroughfares, seldom or never heard, or could hear, such
'' sighing in the Chapter, nothing had come of it, -- till --
"Fact second. In Kaiser Karl V. 's time, the Prince Bishop
"of Lie'ge happened to be a Natural Son of old Kaiser Max's;
"-- and had friends at headquarters, of a very choice nature.
"Had, namely, in this sort, Kaiser Karl for Nephew or
"Half-Nephew; and what perhaps was still better, as nearer
"hand, had Karl's Aunt, Maria Queen of Hungary, then
"Governess of the Netherlands, for Half-Sister. Liege, in
"these choice circumstances, and by other good chances that
"turned up, again got temporary clutch or half-clutch of
"Herstal, for a couple of years (date 1546-'8, the Prince of
"Orange, real proprietor, whose Ancestor had bought it for
"money down, being then a minor); once, and perhaps a
"second time in like circumstance; but had always to re-
nounce it again, when the Prince of Orange came to ma-
"turity. And ever since, the Chapter of Liege sighs as be-
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? CHAP, v. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 107
4th-28th Sept. 1740.
"fore, 'Herstal is perhaps in a sense ours. We had once
"'some kind of right to it! ' -- sigh inaudible in the loud
"public thoroughfares. That is the Bishop's claim. The
"name of him, if anybody care for it, is 'Georg Ludwig,
"'titular Count of Berg,' now a very old man: Bishop of Lidge,
"he, and has been snatching at Herstal again, very eagerly
"by any skirt or tagrag that might happen to fly loose, these
"eight years past, in a rash and provoking manner;* -- age
"eighty-two at present; poor old fool, he had better have sat
"quiet. There lies a rod in pickle for him, during these late
"months; and will be surprisingly laid on, were the time
"come! "
"I have Law Authority over Herstal, and power of
judging there in the last appeal," said this Bishop: --
"You! " thought Friedrich Wilhelm, who was far off,
and had little time to waste. -- "Any Prussian recruiter
that behaves ill, bring him to me! " said the Bishop,
who was on the spot. And accordingly it had been
done; one notable instance two years ago: A Prussian
Lieutenant locked in the Liege jail, on complaint of
riotous Herstal; thereupon a Prussian Officer of rank
(Colonel Kreutzen, worthy old Malplaquet gentleman)
coming as Royal Messenger, not admitted to audience,
nay laid hold of by the Lie'ge bailiff instead; and other
unheard-of procedures. ** So that Friedrich Wilhelm
had nothing but trouble with this petty Herstal, and
mnst have thought his neighbour Bishop a very con-
tentious highflying gentleman, who took great liberties
with the Lion's whiskers, when he had the big animal
at advantage.
The episcopal procedures, eight years ago, about
the First Homaging of Herstal, had been of similar
complexion; nor had other such failed in the interim,
* Micrs dn Pals de Liei)C (Liege, 1738); Belien-Geschichte, ii. 57-62.
llelden-Geschichte, ii. 03-73.
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? 108 FRIEDIilCH TAKES THE REIMS IN HAND. [book. XT.
<<h-28th Sept. 1740.
though this last outrage exceeded them all. This last
began in the end of 1738; and span itself out through
1739, when Friedrich Wilhelm lay in his final sick-
ness, less able to deal with it than formerly. Being a
peaceable man, unwilling to awaken conflagrations for
a small matter, Friedrich Wilhelm had offered, through
Kreutzen on this occasion, to part with Herstal
altogether; to sell it, "for 100,000 thalers," say
16,000/. , to the highflying Bishop, and honestly wash
his hands of it. But the highflying Bishop did not
consent, gave no definite answer; and so the matter
lay, -- like an unsettled extremely irritating paltry
little matter, -- at the time Friedrich Wilhelm died.
The Gazetteers and public knew little about these
particulars, or had forgotten them again; but at the
Prussian Court they were in lively remembrance.
What the young Friedrich's opinion about them had
been we gather from this succinct notice of the thing,
written seven or eight years afterwards, exact in all
points, and still carrying a breath of the old humour
in it. "A miserable Bishop of Lidge thought it a
"proud thing to insult the late King. Some subjects
"of Herstal, which belongs to Prussia, had revolted;
"the Bishop gave them his protection. Colonel
"Kreutzen was sent to Liege, to compose the thing by
"treaty; credentials with him, full power, and all in
"order. Imagine it, the Bishop would not receive him!
"Three days, day after day, he saw this Envoy apply
"at his Palace, and always denied him entrance.
"These things had grown past endurance. "* And
Friedrich had taken note of Herstal along with him,
on this Cleve Journey; privately intending to put
* Prenss, (Euvres (Mem. ie Brandenburg), ii. 53.
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? CHAP. V. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 109
1lh-28th Sept. 1740.
Herstal and thc highflying Bishop on a suitabler foot-
ing, before his return from those countries.
For indeed, on Friedrich's Accession, matters had
grown worse, not better. Of course there was Fealty
to be sworn; but the Herstal people, abetted by the
highflying Bishop, have declined swearing it. Apology
for the past, prospect of amendment for the future,
there is less than ever. What is the young King to
do with this paltry little Hamlet of Herstal? He could,
in theory, go into some Reichs-Hofrath, some Reichs-
Kammergericht (kind of treble and tenfold English
Court-of-Chancery, which has lawsuits 280 years old), --
if he were a theoretic German King. He can plead in
the Diets, and the Wetzlar Reichs-Kammergericht with-
out end: "all German Sovereigns have power to send
"their Ambassador thither, who is like a mastiff chained
"in the backyard" (observes Friedrich elsewhere) "with
"privilege of barking at the Moon," -- unrestricted
privilege of barking at the Moon, if that will avail a
practical man, or King's Ambassador. Or perhaps the
Bishop of Liege will bethink him, at last, what con-
siderable liberty he is taking with some people's
whiskers? Four months are gone; Bishop of Liege has
not in the least bethought him: we are in the neigh-
bourhood in person, with note of the thing in our
memory.
Friedrich takes-the Bod out of PicMe.
Accordingly the Rath Rambonet, whom Voltaire
found at Moyland that Sunday night, had been over at
Liege; went exactly a week before; with this message
of very peremptory tenor from his Majesty:
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? 110 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book XI.
4th-28th Sept. 1740.
To the Prince Bishop of Liege.
"Wesel, 4th September 1740.
"My Cousin, -- Knowing all the assaults (atteintes) made
"by you upon my indisputable rights over my free Barony of
"Herstal; and how the seditious ringleaders there, for several
"years past, have been countenanced (bestarkei) by you in
"their detestable acts of disobedience against me, -- I have
"commanded my Privy Councillor Kambonet to repair to
"your presence, and in my name to require from you, within
"two days, a distinct and categorical answer to this question:
"Whether you are still minded to assert your pretended sover-
"eignty over Herstal; and whether you will protect the rebels
"at Herstal, in their disorders and abominable disobedience?
"In case you refuse, or delay beyond the term, the Answer
"which I hereby of right demand, you will render yourself
"alone responsible, before the world, for the consequences
"which infallibly will follow. I am, with much consideration
"-- My Cousin, --
"Your very affectionate Cousin,
"Fbjedkich. " *
Rambonet had started straightway for Liege, with
this missive; and had duly presented it there, I guess
on the 7th, -- with notice that he would wait forty-
eight hours, and then return with what answer or no-
answer there might be. Getting no written answer, or
distinct verbal one; getting only some vague mumble-
ment as good as none, Rambonet had disappeared from
Liege on the 9th; and was home at Moyland when
Voltaire arrived that Sunday evening, -- just walking
about to come to heat again, after reporting progress
to the above effect.
Rambonet, I judge, enjoyed only one of those
divine Suppers at Moyland; and dashed off again, "on
hired hack" or otherwise, the very next morning; that
contingency of No-answer having been the anticipated
* Helden-Geschichle, ii. 75, 111.
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? CHAP, v. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. Ill
4th-28th Sept. 1740.
one, and all things put in perfect readiness for it.
Kambonet's new errand was to "take act," as Voltaire
calls it, "at the Gates of Liege," -- to deliver at
Liege a succinct Manifesto, Pair of Manifestoes, both
in Print (ready beforehand), and bearing date that
same Sunday, "Wesel, 11th September;" -- much
calculated to amaze his Reverence at Liege. Succinct
good Manifestoes, said to be of Friedrich's own writing;
the essential of the two is this:
Exposition of the Reasons which have induced his Majesty the King
of Prussia to make just Reprisals on the Prince Bishop of Liege.
"His Majesty the King of Prussia, being driven beyond
"boundsby the rude proceedingsof the Prince Bishop ofLiege,
"has with regret seen himself forced to recur to the Method of
"Arms, in order to repress the violence and affront which the
"Bishop has attempted to put upon him. This resolution has
"cost his Majesty much pain; the rather as he is, by principle
"and disposition, far remote from whatever could have the
"least relation to rigour and severity.
"But seeing himself compelled by the Bishop of Lie'ge to
"take new methods, he had no other course but to maintain
"the justice of his'rights (la justice de ses droits), and demand
"reparation for the indignity done upon his Minister Von
"Kreutzen, as well as for the contempt with which the Bishop
"of Lidge has neglected even to answer the Letter of the
"King. g g
"As too much rigour borders upon cruelty, so too much
"patience resembles weakness. Thus, although the King
"would willingly have sacrificed his interests to the public
"peace and tranquillity,it was not possible to do so in reference
"to his honour; and that is the chief motive which has de-
"termined him to this resolution, so contrary to his inten-
"tions.
"In vain has it been attempted, by methods of mildness,
"to come to a friendly agreement: it has been found, on the
"contrary, that the King's moderation only increased the
"Prince's arrogance; that mildness of conduct on one side
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? 112 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book XL
11th Sept. 1740.
"only furnished resources to pride on the other; and that, in
"fine, instead of gaining by soft procedure, one was insen-
"sibly becoming an object of vexation and disdain.
"There being no means to have justice but in doing it for
"oneself, and the King being Sovereign enough for such a
"duty, -- he intends to make the Prince of Liege feel how far
"he was in the wrong to abuse such moderation so unworthily.
"But in spite of so much unhandsome behaviour on the part
"of this Prince, the King will not be inflexible; satisfied with
"having shown the said Prince that he can punish him, and
"too just to overwhelm him.
"FRiD^RIC. "*
"Wesel, September 11th, 1740. "
Whether Rambonet insinuated his Paper-Packet into
the Palace of Seraing, left it at the Gate of Liege (fixed
by nail, if he saw good), or in what manner he "took
act," I never knew; and, indeed, Rambonet vanishes
from human History at this point: it is certain only
that he did his Formality, say two days hence; -- and
that the Fact foreshadowed by it is likewise in the
same hours, hour after hour, getting steadily done.
For the Manifestoes printed beforehand, dated
Wesel, 11th September, were not the only thing ready
at Wesel; waiting, as on the slip, for the contingency
of No-answer. Major-General Borck, with the due
battalions, squadrons and equipments, was also ready.
Major-General Borck, the same who was with us at
Baireuth lately, had just returned from that journey,
when he got orders to collect 2,000 men, horse and
foot, with the due proportion of artillery, from the
Prussian Garrisons in these parts; and to be ready for
marching with them, the instant the contingency of
* Hclden Getchichle, ii. 77. Snid to be by Friedrich himself (Stenzt),
iv. 59).
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? CHAP, v. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 113
Uth Sept. 1740.
No-answer arrives, -- Sunday, 11th, as can be fore-
seen. Borck knows his route: To Maaseyk, a respect-
able Town of the Bishop's, the handiest for Wesel; to
occupy Maaseyk and the adjoining "Counties of Lotz
and Horn;" and lie there at the Bishop's charge till his
Reverence's mind alter.
Borck is ready, to the last pontoon, the last muni-
tion-loaf; and no sooner is signal given of the No-
answer come, than Borck, that same "Sunday, 11th,"
gets under way; marches, steady as clock-work, to-
wards Maaseyk (fifty miles southwest of him, distance
now lessening every hour); crosses the Maas, by help
of his pontoons; is now in the Bishop's Territory, and
enters Maaseyk, evening of "Wednesday, 14th," --
that very day Voltaire and his Majesty had parted,
going different ways from Moyland; and probably about
the same hour while Rambonet was "taking act at the
'Gate of Lidge," by nail-hammer or otherwise. All,
goes punctual, swift, cog hitting pinion far and near,
in this small Herstal Business; and there is no mistake
made, and a minimum of time spent.
Borck's management was throughout good: punctual,
quietly exact, polite, mildly inflexible. Fain would
the Maaseyk Town-Raths have shut their gates on
him; desperately conjuring him, "Respite for a few
hours, till we send to Lidge for instructions! " But it
was to no purpose. "Unbolt, ihr Herren; swift, or the
petard will have to do it!
" Borck publishes his Pro-
clamation, a mild-spoken rigorous Piece; signifies to
the Maaseyk Authorities, That he has to exact a Con-
tribution of 20,000 thalers (3,000/. ) here, Contribution
payable in three days; that he furthermore, while he
continues in these parts, will need such and such
Corljic, Frederick the Great. VI. 8
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? 114 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE KEINS IN HAND. [bOOK XI.
14th Sept. 1740.
rations, accommodations, allowances, -- "fifty louis
(say guineas) daily for his own private expenses," one
item; -- and, in mild rhadamanthine language, waves
aside all remonstrance, refusal or delay, as superfluous
considerations: Unless said Contribution and required
supplies come in, it will be his painful duty to bring
them in. *
The highflying Bishop, much astonished, does now
eagerly answer his Prussian Majesty, "Was from home,
was ill, thought he had answered; is the most ill-used
of Bishops;" and other things of a hysteric character. **
And there came forth, as natural to the situation, mul-
titudinous complainings, manifestoings, applications to
the Kaiser, to the French, to the Dutch, of a very
shrieky character on the Bishop of Liege's part;
sparingly, if at all noticed on Friedrich's: the whole of
which we shall consider ourselves free to leave undis-
turbed in the rubbish-abysses, as henceforth conceivable
to the reader. uScd spem stupende fefellit eventus,"
shrieks the poor old Bishop, making moan to the Kaiser:
"ecce enim, prcemissa duntaxat one Letter," and little
more, "the said King of Borussia has, with about
"2,000 horse and foot, and warlike engines, in this
"month of September, entered theTerritory of Lidge;"*
which is an undeniable truth, but an unavailing. Borck
is there, and "2,000 good arguments with him," as
Voltaire defines the phenomenon. Friedrich, except to
explain pertinently what my readers already know,
does not write or speak farther on the subject; and
readers and he may consider the Herstal Affair, thus
* Helden-Geschichle, i. 427; ii. 113.
** Ibid. ii. 85, SO (date, lGth September).
*** Hcldea-Geschichte, ii. p. 88.
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? CHAP, v. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 115
14th Sept. 1740.
set agoing under Borck's auspices, as in effect finished;
and that his Majesty has left it on a satisfactory foot-
ing, and* may safely turn his back on it, to wait the
sure issue at Berlin before long.
What Voltaire thought of Herstal.
Voltaire told us he himself "did one Manifesto,
good or bad," on this Herstal Business: -- where is
that Piece, then, what has become of it? Dig well in
the realms of Chaos, rectifying stupidities more or less
enormous, the Piece itself is still discoverable; and,
were pieces by Voltaire less a rarity than they are,
might be resuscitated by a good Editor, and printed in
his Works. Lies buried in the lonesome rubbish-moun-
tains of that Helden-Geschichte, -- let a Siste Viator,
scratched on the surface, mark where. * Apparently
that is the Piece by Voltaire? Yes, on reading that,
it has every internal evidence; distinguishes itself from
the surrounding pieces, like a slab of compact polished
stone, in a floor rammed together out of ruinous old
bricks, broken bottles and mortar-dust; -- agrees, too,
if you examine by the miscroscope, with the external
indications, which are sure and at last clear, though
infinitesimally small; and is beyond doubt Voltaire's,
if it were now good for much.
It is not properly a Manifesto, but an anonymous
Memoir published in the Newspapers, explaining to
impartial mankind, in a legible brief manner, what the
old and recent History of Herstal, and the Troubles of
Herstal, have been, and how chimerical and "null to
the extreme of nullity (nulles de toute nullite)" this poor
* Helden-Geschichte, ii. pp. 93-98.
8*
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? 116 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book XL
4th-28th Sept. 174U.
Bishop's pretensions upon it are. Voltaire expressly
piques himself on this Piece; * brags also how he
settled "M. de Fdndlon" (French Ambassador at the
Hague), "who came to me the day before yesterday,"
much out of square upon the Herstal Business, till I
pulled him straight. And it is evident (beautifully so,
your Majesty) how Voltaire busied himself in the Ga-
zettes and Diplomatic circles, setting Friedrich's case
right; Voltaire very loyal to Friedrich and his Liege
Cause at that time; -- and the contrast between what
his contemporary Letters say on the subject, and what
his ulterior Pasquil called Vie Prive'e says, is again
great.
The dull stagnant world, shaken awake by this
Lie^ge adventure, gives voice variously; and in the
G-azetteer and Diplomatic circles it is much criticised,
by no means everywhere in the favourable tone at this
first blush of the business. "He had written an Anti-
Machiavel," says the Abbd St. Pierre, and even says
Voltaire (in the Pasquil, not the contemporary Letters),
"and he acts thus! " Truly he does, Monsieur de Vol-
taire; and all men, with light upon the subject, or even
with the reverse upon it, must make their criticisms.
For the rest, Borck's "2,000 arguments" are there;
which Borck handles well, with polite calm rigour: by
degrees the dust will fall, and facts everywhere be seen
for what they are.
As to the highflying Bishop, finding that hysterics
are but wasted on Friedrich and Borck, and produce
* Letter to Friedrich! dateless, dateable "soon after 17th September;"
which the rash dark Editors have by guess misdated "August;" or, what
was safer for them, omitted altogether. (F. uvres de Voltaire (Paris, 1818,
40 voll. ) gives the Letter, xxxix. 442 (see also Ibid. 453, 463); later Editors,
and even Preuss, take the safer course.
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? CHAP. V. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 117
4th-28th Sept. 1740.
no effect with their 2,000 validities, he flies next to
the Kaiser, to the Imperial Diet, in shrill-sounding
Latin obtestations, of which we already gave a flying
snatch: "Your humilissimus and fldelissimm Vassallus,
and most obsequent Servant, Georgius Ludovicus;
meek, modest, and unspeakably in the right: was ever
Member of the Holy Roman Empire so snubbed, and
grasped by the windpipe, before? 0, help him, great
Kaiser, bid the iron gripe loosen itself! " * The Kaiser
does so, in heavy Latin rescripts, in German Dehorta-
toriums more than one, of a sulky, imperative, and in-
deed very lofty tenor; "Let Georgius Ludovicus go,
foolish rash young Dilection (Liebden, not Majesty, we
ourselves being the only Majesty), and I will judge
between you; otherwise --! " said the Kaiser, ponder-
ously shaking his Olympian wig, and lifting his gilt
cane, or sceptre of mankind, in an Olympian manner.
Here are some touches of his second sublimest Dehorta-
torium addressed to Friedrich, in a very compressed
state: **
We Karl the Sixth, Kaiser of (Titles enough), * * * "Con-
sidering these, in the Holy Roman Reich, almost unheard-
"of violent Doings (Thatlichkeiten), which We, in Our
"Supreme-Judge Office, cannot altogether justify, nor will
"endure We have the trust that you yourself will mag-
nanimously see How evil counsellors have misled your Dilec-
"tion to commence your Reign, not by showing example of
"Obedience to the Laws appointed for all members of the
"Reich, for the weak and for the strong alike, but by such
"Doings (Thathandlungen) as in all quarters must cause a
"great surprise.
"We give your Dilection to know, therefore, That you
"must straightway withdraw those troops which have broken
* Uclden-Geschichte, ii. 86-116.
** Ibid. ii. 127; a first and milder (ibid. 73).
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? 118 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book II.
4th-28th Sept. 1710.
"into the Liege Territory; make speedy restitution of all that
"has been extorted; -- especially General von Borcktogive
"back at once those 50 louis-d'or daily drawn by him, to re-
"nounce his demand of the 20,000 thalers, to make good all
"damage done, and retire with his whole military force
"(Militz) over the Lidge boundaries; -- and in brief that you
"will, by law or arbitration, manage to agree with the Prince
"Bishop of Lidge, who wishes it very much. These things
"We expect from your Dilection, as Kurfurst of Branden-
"burg, within the space of Two Months from the Issuing of
"this; and remain,"'--Yours as you shall demean yourself.
"-- Karl.
"Given at Wien, 4th of Oct. 1740. " -- The last Dehorta-
torium ever signed by Karl VI. In two weeks after, he ate
too many mushrooms, -- and immense results followed!
Dehortatoriums had their interest, at Berlin and
elsewhere, for the Diplomatic circles; but did not pro-
duce the least effect on Borck or Friedrich; though
Friedrich noted the Kaiser's manner in these things,
and thought privately to himself, as was evident to the
discerning, "What an amount of wig on that old
gentleman! " A notable Kaiser's Ambassador, Hen
Botta, who had come with some Accession compliments,
in these weeks, was treated slightingly by Friedrich;
hardly admitted to Audience; and Friedrich's public
reply to the last Dehortatorium had almost something
of sarcasm in it: Evil counsellors, yourself, Most Dread
Kaiser! It is you that are "misled by counsellors,
"who might chance to set Germany on fire, were
"others as unwise as they! " Which latter phrase was
remarkable to mankind. -- There is a long account
already run up between that old gentleman, with his
Seckendorfs, Grumkows, with his dull insolencies,
wiggeries, and this young gentleman, who has nearly
had his heart broken and his Father's house driven
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? CHAP, v. ] AFFAIR OF HERSTAL. 119
4th-28th Sept. 1740.
mad by them! Borck remains at his post; rations duly
delivered, and fifty louis a day for his own private
expenses; and there is no answer to the Kaiser, or in
sharp brief terms (about "chances of setting Germany
on fire"), rather worse than none.
Readers see, as well as Friedrich did, what the
upshot of this Affair must be; -- we will now finish it
off, and wash our hands of it, before following his
Majesty to Berlin. The poor Bishop had applied,
shrieking, to the French for help; -- and there came
some colloquial passages between Voltaire and Fdnelon,
if that were a result. He had shrieked in like manner
to the Dutch, but without result of any kind traceable
in that quarter: nowhere, except from the Kaiser, is so
much as a Dehortatorium to be got. Whereupon the
once highflying, now vainly shrieking Bishop discerns
clearly that there is but one course left, -- the course
which has lain wide open for some years past, had not
his flight gone too high for seeing it. Before three
weeks are over, seeing how Dehortatoriums go, he
sends his Ambassadors to Berlin, his apologies, pro-
posals:* "Would not your Majesty perhaps consent
to sell this Herstal, as your Father of glorious memory
was pleased to be willing once? " --
Friedrich answers straightway to the effect: "Cer-
tainly! Pay me the price it was once already offered
for: 100,000 thalers, plus the expenses since incurred.
That will be 180,000 thalers, besides what you have
spent already on General Borck's days' wages. To
which we will add that wretched little fraction of Old
* Ambassadors arrived, 28th September; last Dehortatorium not yet
oat. Business was completed, 20th October (R6'denbeck in diebns).
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? 120 FRIEDRICH TAKES THE REINS IN HAND. [book XI.
28th Sept. 1740.
Debt, clear as noon, but never paid nor any part of
it; 60,000 thalers, due by the See of Liege ever since
the Treaty of Utrecht; 60,000, for which we will
charge no interest: that will make 240,000 thalers, --
36,000/. , instead of the old sum you might have had
it at. Produce that cash; and take Herstal, and all
the dust that has risen out of it, well home with you. "*
The Bishop thankfully complies in all points; negotia-
tion speedily done ("20th Oct. " the final date): Bishop
has not, I think, quite so much cash on hand; but will
pay all he has, and 4 per centum interest till the
whole be liquidated. His Ambassadors "get gold snuff-
boxes;" and return mildly glad.
And thus, in some six weeks after Borck's arrival
in those parts, Borck's function is well done. The noise
of Gazettes and Diplomatic circles lays itself again;
and Herstal, famous once for King Pipin, and famous
again for King Friedrich, lapses at length into ob-
scurity, which we hope will never end. Hope; --
though who can say? Eoucoux, quite close upon it, be-
comes a Battle-ground in some few years; and memora-
bilities go much at random in this world!
* Stenzel, It. 60, who counts in gulden, and Is not distinct.
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? CHAP. VI ]
121
ROYAL UNCLE AT HANOVER.
16th Sept. 1740.
CHAPTER VI.
RETURNS BY HANOVER; DOES NOT CALL ON HIS ROYAL
UNCLE THERE.
Freedrich spent ten days on his circuitous journey
home; considerable inspection to be done, in Minden,
Magdeburg, not to speak of other businesses he had.
The old Newspapers are still more intent upon him,
now that the Herstal Affair has broken into flame:
especially the English Newspapers; who guess that
there are passages of courtship going on between great
George their King and him. Here is one fact, correct
in every point, for the old London Public: "Letters
"from Hanover say, that the King of Prussia passed
"within a small distance of that City the 16th inst.
"n. s. , on his return to Berlin, but did not stop at
"Herrenhausen;" -- about which there has been such
hoping and speculating among us lately. * A fact
which the extinct Editor seems to meditate for a day
or two; after which he says (partly in italics), opening
his lips the second time, like a Friar Bacon's Head
significant to the Public: "Letters from Hanover tell
"us that the Interview, which it was said his Majesty
"was to have with the King of Prussia, did not take
"place, for certain private reasons, which our Cor-
respondent leaves us to guess at! "
It is well known Eriedrich did not love his little
* Daily Post, 22<J Sept. 1740; other London Newspapers from July 31st
downwards.
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