history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第10章
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e in that sphere； latterly； were not likely to decline！
Friedrich's Army is in the perfection of order。 Ready at the hour； for many months back； but the least motion he makes with it is a subject of jealousy。 Last year； on those Russian advancings and alacrities； he had marched some Regiments into Pommern； within reach of Preussen； should the Russians actually try a stroke there： 〃See！〃 cried all the world： 〃See！〃 cried the enlightened Russian Public。 This year 1756； from June onwards and earlier； there are still more fatal symptoms； on the Austrian side： great and evident War…preparations； Magazines forming； Camps in Bohemia； Moravia； Camp at Konigsgratz； Camp at Prag；handy for the Silesian Border。 Friedrich knows they have deliberated on their Pretext for a War； and have fixed on what will do；some new small Prussian… Mecklenburg brabble； which there has lately been； paltry enough recruiting…quarrel； such as often are （and has been settled mutually some time ago； this one； but is capable of being ripped up again）；and that； on this cobweb of a pretext； they mean to draw sword when they like。 Russia too has its Pretext ready。 And if Friedrich hint of stirring； England whispers hoarse； England and other friends； 〃Wait； your Majesty！ Oh； beware！〃 To keep one's sword at its sharpest； and； with an easy patient air； one's eyes vigilantly open： this is nearly all that Friedrich can do； in neighborhood of such portentous imminencies。 He has many critics； near and far；for instance：
BERLIN； 31st JULY； 1756； Excellency Valori writes to Versailles： 。。。 〃to give you account of a Conversation I have had； a day or two ago； with the Prince of Prussia ＇August Wilhelm； Heir…Apparent＇； who honors me with a particular confidence；〃and who appears to be； privately； like some others； very strong in the Opposition view。 〃He talked to me of the present condition of the King his Brother； of his Brother's apprehensions； of his military arrangements； of the little trust placed in him by neighbors； of their hostile humor towards him； and of many other things which this good Prince ＇little understanding them； as would appear； or the dangerous secret that lay under them＇ did not approve of。 The Prince then said；〃listen to what the Prince of Prussia said to Valori； one of the last days of July； 1756；
〃'There is an Anecdote which continually recurs to me； in the passes we are got to at present。 Putting the case we might be attacked by Russia； and perhaps by Austria； the late Rothenburg was sent ＇as readers know＇； on the King's part； to Milord Tyrconnel； to know of him what； in such case； were the helps he might reckon on from France。 Milord enumerated the various helps； and then added ＇being a blusterous Irishman； sent hither for his ill tongue＇： 〃Helps enough； you observe； Monsieur； but； MORBLEU； if you deceive us； you will be squelched （VOUS SEREZ ECRASES）！〃 The King my 'Brother was angry enough at hearing such a speech： but； my dear Marquis；' and the Prince turned full upon me with a face of inquiry； 'Can the thing actually come true？ And do you think it can be the interest of your Master ＇and his Scarlet Woman＇ to abandon us to the fury of our enemies？ Ah； that cursed Convention ＇Neutrality…Convention with England＇！ I would give a finger from my hand that it had never been concluded。 I never approved of it； ask the Duc de Nivernois； he knows what we said of it together。 But how return on our steps？ Who would now trust us？'〃 This Prince appeared 〃to be much affected by the King his Brother's situation ＇of which he understood as good as nothing＇； and agreed that he；〃 the King his Brother； 〃had well deserved it。〃 ＇Valori； ii； 129…131。＇
This is not the first example； nor the last； of August Wilhelm's owning a heedless； good…natured tongue； considerably prone to take the Opposition side； on light grounds。 For which if he found a kind of solacement and fame in some circles； it was surely at a dear rate！ To his Brother； that bad habit would； most likely； be known； and his Brother； I suppose； did not speak of it at all； such his Brother's custom in cases of the kind。Judicious Valori； by way of answer； dilated on the peculiar esteem of his Majesty Louis XV。 for the Prussian Majesty；〃so as my Instructions direct me to do；〃 and we hear no more of the Prince of Prussia's talk； at this time； but shall in future； and may conjecture a great deal about the atmosphere Friedrich had now to live in。 A Friedrich undergoing； privately； a great deal of criticism： 〃Mad tendency to war； lust of conquest； contempt for his neighbors； for the opinion of the world；no end of irrational tendencies：〃 ＇Ib。 ii。 124…151 （〃July 27th…August 21st〃）。＇ from persons to whom the secret of his Problem is deeply unknown。
One wise thing the English have done： sent an Excellency Mitchell； a man of loyalty； of sense and honesty； to be their Resident at Berlin。 This is the noteworthy； not yet much noted； Sir Andrew Mitchell； by far the best Excellency England ever had in that Court。 An Aberdeen Scotchman； creditable to his Country： hard…headed； sagacious； sceptical of shows； but capable of recognizing substances withal； and of standing loyal to them； stubbornly if needful； who grew to a great mutual regard with Friedrich； and well deserved to do so； constantly about him； during the next seven years； and whose Letters are among the perennially valuable Documents on Friedrich's History。 ＇Happily secured in the British Museum； and now in the most perfect order for consulting （thanks to Sir F。 Madden 〃and three years' labor〃 well invested）； should certainly； and will one day； be read to the bottom； and cleared of their darknesses； extrinsic and intrinsic （which are considerable） by somebody competent。＇
Mitchell is in Berlin since June 10th。 Mitchell； who is on the scene itself； and looking into Friedrich with his own eyes； finds the reiterating of that 〃Beware； your Majesty！〃 which had been his chief task hitherto； a more and more questionable thing； and suggests to him at last： 〃Plainly ask her Hungarian Majesty； What is your meaning by those Bohemian Campings？〃 〃Pshaw；〃 answers Friedrich： 〃Nothing but some ambiguous answer； perhaps with insult in it！〃nevertheless thinks better； and determines to do so。 ＇Mitchell Papers。＇
Chapter IV。
FRIEDRICH PUTS A QUESTION AT VIENNA； TWICE OVER。
July 18th； 1756； Friedrich despatches an Express to Graf von Klinggraf； his Resident at Vienna （an experienced man； whom we have seen before in old Carteret； 〃Conference…of…Hanau〃 times）； To demand audience of the Empress； and； in the fittest terms； friendly and courteous； brief and clear； to put that question of Mitchell's suggesting。 〃Those unwonted Armaments； Camps in Bohmen； Camps in Mahren； and military movements and preparations；〃 Klinggraf is to say； 〃have caused anxiety in her Majesty's peaceable Neighbor of Prussia； who desires always to continue in peace； and who requests hereby a word of assurance from her Majesty； that these his anxieties are groundless。〃 Friedrich himself hopes little or nothing from this； but he has done it to satisfy people about him； and put an end to all scruples in himself and others。 The Answer may be expected in ten or twelve days。
And； about the same time；likely enough； directly after； though there is no date given； to a fact which is curious and authentic； Friedrich sent for two of his chief Generals； to Potsdam； for a secret Conference with Winterfeld and him。 The Generals are； old Schwerin and General Retzow Senior；Major…General Retzow； whom we used to hear of in the Silesian Wars；and whose Son reports on this occasion。 Conference is on this Imminency of War； and as to what shall be done in it。 Friedrich explains in general terms his dangers from Austria and Russia； his certainty that Austria will attack him； and asks； Were it； or were it not； better to attack Austria； as is our Prussian principle in such case？ Schwerin and RetzowSchwerin first； as the eldest； and after him Retzow； 〃who privately has charge from the Prussian Princes to do it〃opine strongly： That indications are uncertain； that much seems inevitable which does not come； that in a time of such tumultuous whirlings and unexpected changes； the true rule is； Watch well； and wait。
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