history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第58章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
before George had ended his vain effort to hasten it）； Austria turned on its pivot； and had clasped； not England to its bosom； but France （thanks to that exquisite Kaunitz）； and was in arms AGAINST England； dear Hanover； and the Cause of Liberty！ Vain to look too far ahead；especially with those fish…eyes。 Smelfungus has a Note on Kaunitz； readable； though far too irreverent of that superlative Diplomatist； and unjust to the real human merits he had。
〃The struggles of Britannic George to get a King of the Romans elected were many。 Friedrich never would bite at this salutary scheme for strengthening the House of Austria： 'A bad man； is not he？' And all the while； the Court of Austria seemed indifferent； in comparison；and Graf von Kaunitz…Rietberg； Ambassador at Paris； was secretly busy； wheeling Austria round on its axis； France round on its； and bringing them to embrace in political wedlock！ Feat accomplished by his Excellency Kaunitz （Paris； 1752…1753）； accomplished； not consummated； left ready for consummating when he； Kaunitz； now home as Prime Minister； or helmsman on the new tack； should give signal。 Thought to be one of the cleverest feats ever done by Diplomatic art。
〃Admirable feat； for the Diplomatic art which it needed； not； that I can see； for any other property it had。 Feat which brought； as it was intended to do； a Third Silesian War； death of about a million fighting men； and endless woes to France and Austria in particular。 An exquisite Diplomatist this Kaunitz； came to be Prince； almost to be God…Brahma in Austria； and to rule the Heavens and Earth （having skill with his Sovereign Lady； too）； in an exquisite and truly surprising manner。 Sits there sublime； like a gilt crockery Idol； supreme over the populations； for near forty years。
〃One reads all Biographies and Histories of Kaunitz： ＇Hormayr's （in OEsterreichischer Plutarch； iv。 3tes； 231…283）； &c。 &c。＇ one catches evidence of his well knowing his Diplomatic element； and how to rule it and impose on it。 Traits there are of human cunning； shrewdness of eye；of the loftiest silent human pride； stoicism； perseverance of determination；but not； to my remembrance； of any conspicuous human wisdom whatever； One asks； Where is his wisdom？ Enumerate； then； do me the pleasure of enumerating； What he contrived that the Heavens answered Yes to； and not No to？ All silent！ A man to give one thoughts。 Sits like a God…Brahma； human idol of gilt crockery； with nothing in the belly of it （but a portion of boiled chicken daily； very ill…digested）； and such a prostrate worship； from those around him； as was hardly seen elsewhere。 Grave； inwardly unhappy… looking； but impenetrable； uncomplaining。 Seems to have passed privately an Act of Parliament： 'Kaunitz…Rietberg here； as you see him； is the greatest now alive； he； I privately assure you！'and； by continued private determination； to have got all men about him to ratify the same； and accept it as valid。 Much can be done in that way with stupidish populations； nor is Beau Brummel the only instance of it； among ourselves； in the later epochs。
〃Kaunitz is a man of long hollow face； nose naturally rather turned into the air； till artificially it got altogether turned thither。 Rode beautifully； but always under cover； day by day； under glass roof in the riding…school； so many hours or minutes； watch in hand。 Hated； or dreaded； fresh air above everything： so that the Kaiserinn； a noble lover of it； would always good…humoredly hasten to shut her windows when he made her a visit。 Sumptuous suppers； soirees； he had； the pink of Nature assembling in his house； galaxy； domestic and foreign； of all the Vienna Stars。 Through which he would walk one turn； glancing stoically； over his nose； at the circumambient whirlpool of nothings；happy the nothing to whom he would deign a word； and make him something。 O my friends！In short； it was he who turned Austria on its axis； and France on its； and brought them to the kissing pitch。 Pompadour and Maria Theresa kissing mutually； like Righteousness andnot PEACE； at any rate！ 'MA CHERE COUSINE；' could I have believed it； at one time？〃
A SECOND Prussian…English cause of offence had arisen； years ago； and was not yet settled； nay is now （Spring； 1753） at its height or crisis： Offence in regard to English Privateering。
Friedrich； ever since Ost…Friesland was his； has a considerable Foreign Trade；not as formerly from Stettin alone； into the Baltic Russian ports； but from Embden now； which looks out into the Atlantic and the general waters of Europe and the World。 About which he is abundantly careful； as we have seen。 Anxious to go on good grounds in this matter； and be accurately neutral； and observant of the Maritime Laws； he had； in 1744； directly after coming to possession of Ost…Friesland； instructed Excellency Andrie； his Minister in London； to apply at the fountain…head； and expressly ask of my Lord Carteret： 〃Are hemp； flax； timber contraband？〃 〃No；〃 answered Carteret； Andrie reported； No。 And on this basis they acted； satisfactorily； for above a year。 But； in October； 1745； the English began violently to take PLANKS for contraband； and went on so； and ever worse； till the end of the War。 ＇Adelung； vii。 334。＇ Excellency Andrie has gone home； and a Secretary of Legation； Herr Michel； is now here in his stead：a good few dreary old Pamphlets of Michel's publishing （official Declaration； official Arguments； Documents； in French and English； 4to and 8vo； on this extinct subject）； if you go deep into the dust…bins； can be disinterred here to this day。 Tread lightly； touching only the chief summits。 The Haggle stretches through five years； 1748…1753；and then at last ceases HAGGLING：
〃JANUARY 8th； 1748 ＇War still on foot； but near ending＇； Michel applies about injuries； about various troubles and unjust seizures of ships； Secretary Chesterfield answers； 'We have an Admiralty Court； beyond question； right shall be done。' 'Would it were soon； then！' hints Michel。 Chesterfield； who is otherwise politeness itself； confidently hopes so； but cannot push Judicial people。
〃FEBRUARY； 1748。 Admiralty being still silent； Michel applies by Memorial； in a specific case： 'Two Stettin Ships； laden with wine from Bordeaux； and a third vessel；' of some other Prussian port； laden with corn； taken in Ramsgate Roads； whither they had been driven by storm： 'Give me these Ships back！' Memorial to his Grace of Newcastle； this。 Upon which the Admiralty sits； with deliberation； decides （June； 1748）； 'Yes！' And 'there is hope that a Treaty of Commerce will follow；' ＇ Gentleman's Magazine； xviii。 （for 1748）； pp。 64； 141。＇ which was far from being the issue just yet！
〃On the contrary； his Prussian Majesty's Merchants； perhaps encouraged by this piece of British justice； came forward with more and ever more complaints and instances。 To winnow the strictly true out of which； from the half…true or not provable； his Prussian Majesty has appointed a 'Commission；'〃 fit people； and under strict charges； I can believe； 〃Commission takes （to Friedrich's own knowledge） a great deal of pains；and it does not want for clean corn； after all its winnowing。 Plenty of facts； which can be insisted on as indisputable。 'Such and such Merchant Ships ＇Schedules of them given in； with every particular； time； name； cargo； value＇ have been laid hold of on the Ocean Highway； and carried into English Ports；OUT of which his Prussian Majesty has； in all Friendliness； to beg that they be now re…delivered； and justice done。' 'Contraband of War；' answer the English； 'sorry to have given your Majesty the least uneasiness； but they were carrying''No； pardon me； nothing contraband discoverable in them；' and hands in his verified Schedules； with perfectly polite； but more and more serious request； That the said ships be restored； and damages accounted for。 'Our Prize Courts have sat on every ship of them；' eagerly shrieks Newcastle all along： 'what can we do！' 'Nay a Special Commission shall now ＇1751； date not worth seeking farther＇special Commission shall now sit； till his Prussian Majesty get every satisfaction in the world！'
〃English Special Commission； counterpart of that Prussian one （which is in vacatio
