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HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II OF PRUSSIA V 1X
HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II OF PRUSSIA V 1X THOMAS CARLYLE Prepared by D.R. Thompson <
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Carlyle's "History of Friedrich II of Prussia"
Book XVII
THE SEVEN-YEARS WAR: FIRST CAMPAIGN.
1756-1757.
Chapter I.
WHAT FRIEDRICH HAD READ IN THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS.
The ill-informed world entirely unaware of what Friedrich had been
studying and ascertaining to his bitter sorrow for four years
past was extremely astonished at the part he took in those French-
English troubles; extremely provoked at his breaking out again into
a Third Silesian War greater than all the others and kindling all
Europe in such a way. The ill-informed world rang violently then
and long after with a Controversy "Was it of his beginning or
Not of his beginning?" Controversy which may in our day be
considered as settled by unanimous mankind; finished forever;
and can now have no interest for any creature.
Omitting that our problem is (were it possible in brief compass)
To set forth by what authentic traits there are--not the
"ambitious" "audacious" voracious and highly condemnable
Friedrich of the Gazetteers--but the thrice-intricately situated
Friedrich of Fact. What the Facts privately known to Friedrich
were in what manner known; and how in a more complex crisis than
had yet been Friedrich demeaned himself: upon which latter point
and those cognate to it readers ought not to be ignorant if now
fallen indifferent on so many other points of the Affair. What a
loud-roaring loose and empty matter is this tornado of
vociferation which men call "Public Opinion"! Tragically howling
round a man; who has to stand silent the while; and scan wisely
under pain of death the altogether inarticulate dumb and
inexorable matter which the gods call Fact! Friedrich did read his
terrible Sphinx-riddle; the Gazetteer tornado did pipe and blow.
King Friedrich in contrast with his Environment at that time will
most likely never be portrayed to modern men in his real
proportions real aspect and attitude then and there--which are
silently not a little heroic and even pathetic when well seen
into;--and for certain he is not portrayable at present on our
side of the Sea. But what hints and fractions of feature we
authentically have ought to be given with exactitude especially
with brevity and left to the ingenuous imagination of readers.
The secret sources of the Third Silesian War since called "Seven-
Years War" go back to 1745; nay we may say to the First Invasion
of Silesia in 1740. For it was in Maria Theresa's incurable sorrow
at loss of Silesia and her inextinguishable hope to reconquer it
that this and all Friedrich's other Wars had their origin.
Twice she had signed Peace with Friedrich and solemnly ceded
Silesia to him: but that too with the Imperial Lady was by no
means a finis to the business. Not that she meant to break her
Treaties; far from her such a thought--in the conscious form.
Though alas in the unconscious again it was always rather near!
practically she reckoned to herself these Treaties would come to
be broken as Treaties do not endure forever; and then at the good
moment she did purpose to be ready. "Silesia back to us; Pragmatic
Sanction complete in every point! Was not that our dear Father's
will monition of all our Fathers and their Patriotisms and
Traditionary Heroisms; and in fact the behest of gods and men?"
Ten years ago this notion had been cut down to apparent death in
a disastrous manner for the second time. But it did not die in the
least: it never thinks of dying; starts always anew passionate to
produce itself again as action valid at last; and lives in the
Imperial Heart with a tenacity that is strange to observe.
Still stranger in the envious Valet-Heart--in that of Bruhl who
had far less cause!
The Peace of Dresden Christmas 1745 seemed to be an act of
considerable magnanimity on Friedrich's part. It was at the first
blush of it "incredible" to Harrach the Austrian Plenipotentiary;
whose embarrassed astonished bow we remember on that occasion
with English Villiers shedding pious tears. But what is very
remarkable withal is a thing since discovered: [INFRA next Note
(p. 276).] That Harrach magnanimous signature hardly yet dry did
then straightway by order of his Court very privately inquire of
Bruhl "There is Peace you see; what they call Peace:--but our
TREATY OF WARSAW for Partition of this magnanimous man stands all
the same; does n't it?" To which according to the Documents
Bruhl hardly escaped from the pangs of death and still in a very
pale-yellow condition had answered in effect "Hah say you so?
One's hatred is eternal;--but that man's iron heel! Wait a little;
get Russia to join in the scheme!"--and hung back; the willing
mind but the too terrified! And in this way like a famishing dog
in sight of a too dangerous leg of mutton Bruhl has ever since
rather held back; would not re-engage at all for almost two years
even on the Czarina's engaging; and then only in a cautious
conditional and hypothetic manner--though with famine increasing
day by day in sight of the desired viands. His hatred is fell;
but he would fain escape with back unbroken.
HOW FRIEDRICH DISCOVERED THE MYSTERY. CONCERNING MENZEL
AND WEINGARTEN.
Friedrich has been aware of this mystery at least wide awake to it
and becoming ever more instructed for almost four years.
Traitor Menzel the Saxon Kanzellist--we who have prophetically
read what he had to confess when laid hold of are aware though as
yet and on to 1757 it is a dead secret to all mortals but himself
and "three others"--has been busy for Prussia ever since "the end
of 1752." Got admittance to the Presses; sent his first Excerpt
"about the time of Easter-Fair 1753"--time of Voltaire's taking
wing. And has been at work ever since. Copying Despatches from the
most secret Saxon Repositories; ready always on Excellency
Mahlzahn's indicating the Piece wanted; and of late I should
think is busier than ever as the Saxon Mystery which is also an
Austrian and Russian one gets more light thrown into it and seems
to be fast ripening towards action of a perilous nature. The first
Excerpts furnished by Menzel readers can judge how enigmatic they
were. These Menzel Papers copies mainly of Petersburg or Vienna
DESPATCHES to Bruhl with Bruhl's ANSWERS--the principal of which
were subsequently printed in their best arrangement and liveliest
point of vision [In Friedrich's Manifestoes chiefly in MEMOIRE
RAISONNE SUR LA CONDUITE DES COURS DE VIENNE ET DE SAXE (compiled
from the MENZEL ORIGINALS so soon as these were got hold of:
Berlin Autumn 1756). A solid and able Paper; rapidly done by one
Count Herzberg who rose high in after times. Reprinted with many
other "Pieces" and "Passages" in Gesammelte Nachrichten
und Urkunden --which is a "Collection" of such
(2 vols. 113 Nos. small 8vo no Place 1757 my Copy of it).]--are
by no means a luminous set of Documents to readers at this day.
Think what a study they were at Potsdam in 1753 while still in the
chaotic state; fished out more or less at random as Menzel could
lay hold of them or be directed to them; the enigma clearing
itself only by intense inspection and capability of seeing in
the dark!
It appears--if you are curious on the anecdotic part--
"Winterfeld was the first that got eye on this dangerous Saxon
Mystery; some Ex-Saxon about to settle in Berlin giving hint of
it to Winterfeld; who needed only a hint. So soon as Winterfeld
convinced himself that there was weight in the affair he imparted
it to Friedrich: 'Scheme of partitioning your Majesty of picking
quarrel then overwhelming and partitioning; most serious scheme
Austrian-Russian as well as Saxon; going on steadily for years
past and very lively at this time!' If true Friedrich cannot but
admit that this is serious enough: important thrice over to
discover whether it is true;--and gives Winterfeld authority to
prosecute it to the bottom in Dresden or wherever the secret may
lie. Who thereupon charged Mahlzahn the Prussian Minister at
Dresden to find some proper Menzel and bestir himself.
How Mahlzahn has found his Menzel and has bestirred himself we
saw. Thief-keys were made to pattern in Berlin; first set did not
fit second did; and stealthy Menzel gains admittance to that
Chamber of the Archives can steal thither on shoes of felt when
occasion serves and copy what you wish--for a consideration.
Intermittently since about Easter-Fair 1753. Three persons are
cognizant of it Winterfeld Mahlzahn Friedrich; three and no
more. Probably the abstrusest study; and the most intense going on
in the world at that epoch. [Rotzow Charakteristik des
Siebenjahrigen Krieges (Berlin 1802) i. 23.]
"At a very early stage of the Menzel Excerpts it became manifest
that certain synchronous Austrian Ditto would prove highly
elucidative; that in fact it would be indispensable to get hold
of these as well. Which also Winterfeld has managed to do. A deep-
headed man who has his eyes about him; and is very apt to manage
what he undertakes. One Weingarten Junior a Secretary in the
Austrian Embassy at Berlin (Excellency Peubla's second Secretary)
has his acquaintanceships in Berlin Society; and for one thing as
Winterfeld discovers is 'madly in love' with some Chambermaid or
quasi-chambermaid (let us call her Chambermaid) 'Daughter of the
Castellan at Charlottenburg.' Winterfeld through the due channels
applied to this Chambermaid 'Get me a small secret Copy of such
and such Despatches out of your Weingarten; it will be well for
you and him; otherwise perhaps not well!' Chambermaid hope urging
or perhaps hope and fear did her best; Weingarten had to yield the
required product and products as required. By this Weingarten
from some date not long after Menzel's first mysterious Dresden
Excerpts the necessary Austrian glosses so far as possible to
Weingarten on the indications given him have been regularly had
for the two or three years past.
"Weingarten first came to be seriously suspected June 1756
(Weingarten Junior let us still say for there was a Senior of
unstained fidelity); 'June 15th' Excellency Peubla pointedly
demands him from Friedrich and the Berlin Police:
'Weingarten Junior my SECOND Secretar fugitive and traitor;
hidden somewhere!' ["BERLIN 22d JUNE: Every research making for
Mr. Weingatten--in vain hitherto" ( Gentleman's Magazine
xxvi. i. e. for 1756 p. 363).] Excellency Peubla is
answered 24th June: 'We would so fain catch him if we could!
We have tried at Stendal--not there: tried his Mother-in-law;
knows nothing: have forborne laying up his poor Wife and Children;
and hope her Imperial Majesty will have pity on that poor creature
who is fallen so miserable.' [ Helden-Geschichte italic> iii. 713.] So that Excellency Peubla had nothing for it but
to compose himself; to honor the unstainable fidelity of Weingarten
Senior by a public piece of promotion which soon ensued; and let
the Junior run. Weingarten Junior on the first suspicion had
vanished with due promptitude--was not to be unearthed again.
We perceive he has married his Charlottenburg Beauty and there are
helpless babies. It seems he lived long years after in the
Altmark as a Herr von Weiss'--his reflections manifold but
unknown. [Retzow i. 37.] What is much notabler Cogniazzo the
Austrian Veteran heard Weingarten's MASTER Graf von Peubla talk
of the 'GRAND MYSTERE' soon after and how Friedrich had heard of
it not from Weingarten alone but from Gross-Furst PETER Russian
Heir-Apparent! [Cogniazzo i. 225.]
"As to Menzel he did not get away. Menzel as we saw lasted in
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