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第65章

history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第65章

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missed Apraxin (to be tried by Court…Martial; he); dismisses Bestuchef the Chancellor; appoints a new General; Fermor by name; orders Fermor to go and lose not a moment; now in the depth of Winter since it was not done in the crown of Summer; and take possession of East Preussen in her name。

Which Fermor does; 16th January; crosses the border again; 31;000 in all; without opposition except from the frost; plants himself up and down;only two poor Prussian battalions there; who retire; with their effects; especially 〃with seven wagons of money。〃 January 22d; Fermor enters Konigsberg; publishes no end of proclamations; manifestoes; rescripts; to inform the poor people; trembling at the Cossack atrocities of last Year; 〃That his august Sovereign Elizabeth of All the Russias has now become Proprietress of East Preussen; which shall be perfectly protected and exquisitely well…governed henceforth; and that all men of official or social position have; accordingly; to come and take the oath to her; with the due alacrity and punctuality; at their peril。〃

No man is willing for the operation; most men shudder at it; but who can help them? Surely it was an unblessed operation。 Poor souls; one pities them; for at heart they were; and continued; loyal to their own King; thoroughly abhorrent of becoming Russian; as Czarish Majesty has thoroughly resolved they shall。 Some few absconded; leaving their property as spoil; the rest swore; with mental reservation; with shifts; such as they could devise:for example; some were observed to swear with gloves on; the right hand; which they held up; was a mere right FIST with a stuffed glove at the end of it;SO help me Beelzebub (or whoever is the recording Angel here)! ' Helden…Geschichte;  v。 141…149: Preuss; ii。 145; iii。 578; iv。 477; &c。' And thus does Preussen; with astonishment; as by the spell of a Czarina Circe; find itself changed suddenly to Russian: and does not recover the old human form till four years hence;when; again suddenly; as we shall see; the Circe and her wand chance to get broken。

Friedrich could not mend or prevent this bad Business; but was so disgusted with it; he never set foot in East Preussen again;never could bear to behold it; after such a transformation into temporary Russian shape。 I cannot say he abhorred this constrained Oath as I should have done: on the contrary; in the first spurt of indignation; he not only protested aloud; but made reprisals; 〃Swear ME those Saxons; then!〃 said he; and some poor magistrates of towns; and official people; had to make a figure of swearing (if not allegiance altogether; allegiance for the time being); in the same sad fashion; till one's humor cooled again。 'Preuss; ii。 163: Oath given in  Helden…Geschichte;  v。 631。' East Preussen; lost in this way; held by its King as before; or more passionately now than ever; still loved Friedrich; say the Books; but it is Russia's for the present; and the mischief is done。 East Preussen itself; Circe Czarina cherishing it as her own; had a much peaceabler time: in secret it even sent moneys; recruits; numerous young volunteers to Friedrich; much more; hopes and prayers。 But his disgust with the late transformation by enchantment was inexpiable。

It was May or June; as had been anticipated; before the Russian main Army made its practical appearance in those parts。 Fermor had; in the interim; seized Thorn; seized Elbing (〃No offence; magnanimous Polacks; it is only for a time!〃);and would fain have had Dantzig too; but Dantzig would n't。 Not till June 16th did the unwieldy mass (on paper 104;000; and in effect; and exclusive of Cossack rabble; about 75;000) get on way; and begin slowly staggering westward。 Very slowly; and amid incendiary fire and horrid cruelty; as heretofore;and in August coming we shall be sure to hear of it。

Lehwald was just finishing with the Swedes;had got them all bottled up in Stralsund again; about New…Year's time; when these Russians crossed into Preussen。 We said nothing of the Swedish so…called Campaign of last Year;and indeed are bound to be nearly silent of that and of all the others。 Five Campaigns of them; or at least Four and a half; such Campaigns as were never made before or since。 Of Campaign 1757; the memorable feature is; that of the whole 〃Swedish Division;〃 as the laughing Newspapers called it; which was 〃put to flight by five Berlin Postilions;〃substantially a truth; as follows:

〃Night of September 12th…13th; 1757; the Swedes; 22;000 strong; did at last begin business; crossed Peene River; the boundary between their Pommern and ours; and; having nothing but some fractions of Militia to oppose them; soon captured the Redoubts there; spread over Prussian Pommern; and on into the Uckermark; diligently raising contributions; to a heavy amount。 No less than 90;000 pounds in all for this poor Province; though; by a strange accident; 60;000 pounds proved to be the actual sum。

〃Towards the end of October they had got as much as 60;000 pounds from the northern parts of Uckermark; Prentzlow being their head… quarter during that operation; and they now sent out a Detachment of 200 grenadiers and 100 dragoons towards Zehdenick; another little Town; some forty miles farther south; there to wring out the remaining sum。 The Detachment marched by night; not courting notice; but people had heard of its coming; and five Prussian Postilions;shifty fellows; old hussars it may be; at any rate skilful on the trumpet; and furnished with hussar jackets and an old pistol each; determined to do something for their Country。 The Swedish Detachment had not marched many miles; when;after or before some flourishes of martial trumpeting;there verily fell on the Swedish flank; out of a clump of dark wood; five shots; and wounded one man。 To the astonishment and panic of the other two hundred and ninety…nine; who made instant retreat; under new shots and trumpet…tones; as if it were from five whole hussar regiments; retreat double…quick; to Prentzlow; alarm waxing by the speed; alarm spreading at Prentzlow itself: so that the whole Division got to its feet; recrossed the Peene; and Uckermark had nothing more to pay; for that bout! This is not a fable; such as go in the Newspapers;〃 adds my Authority; 〃but an accurate fact:〃 ' Helden…Geschichte;  iv。 764; 807; Archenholtz; i。 160。'probably; in our day; the alone memorable one of that 〃Swedish War。〃

〃The French;〃 says another of my Notes; 〃who did the subsidying all round (who paid even the Russian Subsidy; though in Austria's name); had always an idea that the Swedes22;000 stout men; this year; 4;000 of them cavalrymight be made to co…operate with the Russians; with them or with somebody; and do something effective in the way of destroying Friedrich。 And besides their subsidies and bribings; the French took incredible pains with this view; incessantly contriving; correspondencing; and running to and fro between the parties: 'For example: M。 le Marquis de Montalembert; CORRESPONDANCE AVEC &c。; ETANT EMPLOYE PAR LE ROI DE FRANCE A L'ARMEE SUEDOISE; 1757…1761 (〃with the Swedish Army;〃 yes; and sometimes with the Russian;and sometimes on the French Coasts; ardently fortifying against Pitt and his Descents there:a very intelligent; industrious; observant man; still amusing to read; if one were idler); A LONDRES (evidently Paris); 1777; 3 vols。 small 8vo。 Then; likewise very intelligent; there is a Montazet; a Mortaigne; a Caulaiucourt; a CAMPAGNE DES RUSSES EN 1757; &c。 &c。; in short; a great deal of fine faculty employed there in spinning ropes from sand。' but had not; even from the Russians and Czarish Majesty; much of a result; and from the Swedes had absolutely none at all。 By French industry and flagitation; the Swedish Army was generally kept up to about 20;000: the soldiers were expert with their fighting…tools; knew their field…exercise well; had fine artillery; and were stout hardy fellows: but the guidance of them was wonderful。 'They had no field…commissariat;' says one Observer; 'no field…bakery; no magazines; no pontoons; no light troops; and;' among the Higher Officers; 'no subordination。' 'Archenholtz; i。 158。' Were; in short; commanded by nobody in particul

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