history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第8章
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ty as heretofore； unexpected changes； miraculous to the Gazetteers； became inevitable；nothing less； in short； than explosion or topsy…turvying of the old Diplomatic…Political Scheme of Europe。 Old dance of the Constellations flung heels…over…head on the sudden； and much pirouetting； jigging； setting； before they could change partners； and continue their august dance again； whether in War or Peace。 No end to the industrious wonder of the Gazetteer mind； to the dark difficulties of the Diplomatic。 What bafflings； agonistic shufflings； impotent gazings into the dark； what seductive fiddling； and being fiddled to！ A most sad function of Humanity； if sometimes an inevitable one； which ought surely at all times to be got over as briefly as possible。 To be written of； especially； with a maximum of brevity； human nature being justly impatient of talk about it； beyond the strictly needful。〃
Most true it is； and was most miraculous； though now quite forgotten again； Political Europe had to make a complete whirl… round on that occasion。 And not in a day； and merely saying to itself； 〃Let me do summerset！〃 as idle readers suppose；but with long months of agonistic shuffle and struggle in all places； and such Diplomatic fiddling and being fiddled to； as seldom was before。 Of which； these two instances； the Bernis and the Hanbury； are to serve as specimen； two and no more： a universe of extinct fiddling compressed into two nutshells； if readers have an ear。
Chapter III。
FRENCH…ENGLISH WAR BREAKS OUT。
The French； in reality a good deal astonished at the Prussian… Britannic Treaty； affected to take it easy： 〃Treaty for Neutrality of Germany？〃 said they： 〃Very good indeed。 Perhaps there are places nearer us； where our troops can be employed to more advantage！〃 ＇Their 〃Declaration〃 on it （Adelung； vii。 613。＇hinting vocally； as henceforth their silent procedures； their diligence in the dockyards； moving of troops coastward and the like； still more clearly did； That an Invasion of England itself was the thing next to be expected。
England and France are； by this time； alike fiercely determined on War； but their states of preparation are very different。 The French have War…ships again； not to mention Armies which they always have； some skilful Admirals withal；La Gallisonniere； our old Canada friend； is one； very busy at present；and mean to try seriously the Question of Sea…Supremacy once more。 If an Invasion did chance to land； the state of England would be found handy beyond hope！ How many fighting regiments England has； I need not inquire； nor with what strategic virtue they would go to work；enough to mention the singular fact （recently true； and still； I perceive； too like the truth）； That of all their regiments； 〃only Three are in this Country〃； or have Colonels even nominated。 Incredible； but certain。 And the interesting point is； his Grace of Newcastle dare not have Colonels； still less higher Officers nominated； because Royal Highness of Cumberland would have the naming of them； and they would be enemies to his Grace。 ＇Walpole； George the Second； ii。 19 （date； 〃March 25th； 1755；〃 and how long after； is not said： but see Pitt's Speeches； ib。； all through 1756； and farther）。＇ In such posture stands the Envy of surrounding Nations at this moment。
〃Hire Hessians；〃 cry they； 〃hire Hanoverians； if France land on us； we are undone！〃and continue their Parliamentary Eloquences in a most distressful manner。 〃Apply to the Dutch； at any rate； for their 6；000 as per Treaty〃； cries everybody。 Which is done。 But the Dutch piteously wring their hands： 〃Dare not； your Majesty； how dare we； for France and our neglected Barrier！ Oh； generous Majesty； excuse us！〃and the generous Majesty has to do it； and leave the Dutch in peace； this time。 Hessians； Hanoverians； after eloquence enough； are at last got sent for； to guard us against this terrible Invasion： about 10；000 of each kind； and do land； the native populations very sulky on them （〃We won't billet you； not we； build huts； and be！〃）； with much Parliamentary and Newspaper Commentary going on； of a distressful nature。 〃Saturday； 15th May； 1756； Hessians disembark at Southampton； obliged to pitch Camp in the neighborhood： Friday； 21st May； the Hanoverians； at Chatham； who hut themselves Canterbury way；〃and have （what is the sum…total of their achievements in this Country） a case of shoplifting； 〃pocket…handkerchief； across the counter； in open day；〃 one case （or what seemed to be one； but was not）； ＇〃At Maidstone； 13th Septemher； 1756；〃 Hanoverian soldier； purchasing a handkerchief； imagines he has purchased two （not yet clipt asunder）； haberdasher and he having no language in common： Gentleman's Magazine； for 1756； pp。 259； 448； &c。； Walpole； SAEPIUS。＇ 〃and the fellow not to be tried by us for it！〃 which enrages the constitutional heart。 Alas； my heavy…laden constitutional heart； but what can we do？ These drilled louts will guard us； should this terrible Invasion land。 And indeed； about three weeks BEFORE these louts arrived； the terrible Invasion had declared itself to have been altogether a feint； and had lifted anchor； quite in the opposite direction； on an errand we shall hear of soon！
About the same date； I observe； 〃the first regiment of Footguards practising the Prussian drill…exercise in Hyde Park；〃 and hope his Grace of Newcastle and the Hero of Culloden （immortal Hero； and aiming high in Politics at this time） will； at least； have fallen upon some method of getting Colonels nominated。 But the wide… weltering chaos of platitudes； agitated by hysterical imbecilities； regulating England in this great crisis； fills the constitutional mind with sorrow； and indeed is definable； once more； as amazing！ England is a stubborn Country； but it was not by procedures of the Cumberland…Newcastle kind that England； and her Colonies； and Sea… and…Land Kingdoms； was built together； nor by these； except miracle intervene； that she can stand long against stress！ Looking at the dismal matter from this distance； there is visible to me in the foggy heart of it one lucent element； and pretty much one only； the individual named William Pitt； as I have read him： if by miracle that royal soul could； even for a time； get to something of Kingship there？ Courage； miracles do happen； let us hope！This is whitherward the grand Invasion had gone：
TOULON； 10th APRIL； 1756。 La Gallisonniere； our old Canadian friend； a crooked little man of great faculty； who has been busy in the dockyards lately； weighs anchor from Toulon； 〃12 sail of the line； 5 frigates and above 100 transport…ships；〃 with the grand Invasion…of…England Armament on board： 16；000 picked troops； complete in all points； Marechal Duc de Richelieu commanding。 ＇Adelung； viii。 70。＇ Weighs anchor； and； singular to see； steers； not for England； and the Hessian…Hanover Defenders （who would have been in such excellent time）； but direct for Minorca； as the surer thing！ Will seize Minorca； a so…called inexpugnable Possession of the English；Key of their Mediterranean Supremacies；really inexpugnable enough； but which lies in the usual dilapidated state； though by chance with a courageous old Governor in it； who will not surrender quite at once。
APRIL 18th； La Gallisonniere disembarks his Richelieu with a Sixteen Thousand； unopposed at Port…Mahon； or Fort St。 Philip； in Minorca； who instantly commences Siege there。 To the astonishment of England and his Grace of Newcastle who； except old Governor Blakeney； much in dilapidation （〃wooden platforms rotten；〃 〃batteries out of repair；〃 and so on）； have nothing ready for Richelieu in that quarter。 The story of Minorca； and the furious humors and tragic consummations that arose on it； being still well known； we will give the dates only。
FORT ST。 PHILIP； APRIL 18th…MAY 20th。 For a month； Richelieu； skilful in tickling the French troops； has been besieging； in a high and grandiose way； La Gallisonniere vigilantly cruising； old Blakeney； in spite of the rotten platforms； vigorously holding out； whenMay 19th； La Gallisonniere descries an English fleet in the distance； indisputably an English fleet； and clears his decks for a serious Affair just coming。 THURSDAY； 20th MAY； Ad
