history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第64章
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gave him a whole bunch of keys； which were said to be sent by Privy…counsellor Eichel of Potsdam ＇whom we know＇； to try whether any of them would unlock the presses of the Foreign Department。 But none of them would； and Prisoner returned the keys； pointing out； however； what alterations were required to fit the keyhole。
〃And； about three weeks after this； Plessmann provided Prisoner with another set of keys； among which one did unlock said presses。 With this key Prisoner now repeatedly opened the presses； and provided Plessmann； whenever required；oftenest； with Petersburg Despatches。 Had also； three years ago （1754）； here in Warsaw； communicated Vienna Despatches； three or four times； to Benoit； especially on Sundays and Thursdays； which were slack days； nobody in the Office about noon。
〃The actual first of these Communications did not take place till after Easter…Fair； 1753； Prisoner not having； till said Fair； received the second bunch of keys from Plessmann。 Now and then he had to communicate French Despatches。 Whenever he gave original Despatches； he received them back shortly after； and replaced them in the presses。 During this present stay of the Court at Warsaw； has communicated little to Benoit except from the CIRCULARS ＇Legation NEWS…LETTERS＇； when he found anything noteworthy in them； also； now and then； the Ponikau Despatches ＇Ponikau being at the Reich's Diet； in circumstances interesting to us＇。 Has received； one time and another； several 100 thalers from Benoit； since the Court came hither last。〃（And so EXIT Menzel。）
〃Hereupon the Second Prisoner was brought in；who deposed as follows：
〃He is named Johann Benjamin Erfurth； a goldsmith by trade； age thirty…two； the Prisoner Menzel's Brother…in…law。
〃Confesses that Menzel had made use of him； at Dresden； during one year： to deliver； several times； sealed papers to the Prussian Secretary Plessmann； or rather mostly to Plessmann's servant。 Also that； here in Warsaw； he has had to carry Despatches to Benoit； and to deliver them into his own hands。 Latterly he has delivered the Despatches to certain Prussian peasants； who stopped at Benoit's； and who always relieved each other； and every time； the one who went away directed Prisoner； in turn； to him that arrived。
〃He received from Menzel； yesterday towards noon； a small sealed packet； which he was to convey to the Prussian peasant who had made an appointment with him at the Prussian Office （HOF） here。 But as he was going to take it； and had just got outside of the Palace Court； a corporal took hold of him and arrested him。 Confesses having concealed the parcel in his trousers…pocket； and to have denied that he had anything upon him。 。。。 ACTUM UT SUPRA。〃 Signed 〃GOTZE〃 （with titles）。
〃Next day； September 26th； Menzel re…examined； answers in effect following：
〃Plessmann never himself came into the Archive Office at Dresden； except the one time ＇a time that will be notable to us！＇ when the Prussians were there to take away the Papers by force； then Plessmann was with them；〃and we will remember the circumstance。
〃Before leaving Dresden for Poland； last Year （1756）； he； Menzel； had returned the said key to Plessmann； who gave him others for use here。 After his arrival here； he returned these keys to Benoit； in the presence of Erfurth； saying； they were of no use to him； and that he could not get at the Despatches here。 Prisoner farther declares； that it was the Minister von Mahlzahn who； of his own accord； and quite at the beginning； made the proposal concerning the keys； and when Plessmann brought the keys； he said expressly they were for the Minister； along with fifty thalers； which he； Menzel； received at the same time。 ACTUM UT SUPRA。〃 Signed as before。 ＇ Helden…Geschichte； v。 677 （as BEYLAGE or Appendix to the Kur…Sachsen 〃PRO MEMORIA to the Reich's Diet；〃 of date； Regensburg； 31st January； 1758）。＇
We could give some of the stolen Pieces； too； but they are of abstruse tenor； and would be mere enigmas to readers here。 Enough that Friedrich understands them。 To Friedrich's intense and long…continued scrutiny； they indicate； what is next to incredible； but is at length fatally undeniable； That the old TREATY； which we called OF WARSAW； 〃Treaty for Partitioning Prussia；〃 is still （in spite of all subsequent and superincumbent Treaties to the contrary） vigorously alive underground； that Saxon Bruhl and her Hungarian Majesty； to whom is now added Czarish Majesty； are fixed as ever on cutting down this afflictive； too aspiring King of Prussia to the size of a Brandenburg Elector； busy （in these Menzel Documents） considering how it may be done； especially how the bear… skin may be SHARED；and that； in short； there lies ahead； inevitable seemingly； and not far off； a Third Silesian War。
Which punctually came true。 The THIRD SILESIAN WARsince called SEVEN…YEARS WAR； that proving to be the length of itis now near。 Breaks out； has to break out； August； 1756。 The heaviest and direst struggle Friedrich ever had； the greatest of all his Prowesses； Achievements and Endurances in this world。 And； on the whole； the last that was very great； or that is likely to be memorable with Posterity。 Upon which； accordingly； we must try our utmost to leave some not untrue notion in this place： and that once DONE Courage； reader！
FRIEDRICH IS VISIBLE； IN HOLLAND； TO THE NAKED EYE； FOR SOME MINUTES （June 23d； 1755）。
In 1755 it was that Voltaire wrote； not the first Letter； but the first very notable one； to his Royal Friend； after their great quarrel： ＇Dated 〃The DELICES； near Geneva； 4th August； 1755〃 （in Rodenbeck； i。 287； in OEuvres de Frederic； xxiii。 7； not given by any of the French Editors）。＇ seductively repentant； and oh； so true； so tender；Royal Friend still obstinate； who answers nothing； or answers only through De Prades： 〃Yes； yes； we are aware！〃 And it was in the same Year that Friedrich first saw D'Alembert；Voltaire's successor； in a sense。 And farther on （1st November； 1755）； that the Earthquake of Lisbon went； horribly crashing； through the thoughts of all mortals； thoughts of King Friedrich； among others； whose reflections on it； I apprehend； are stingy； snarlingly contemptuous； rather than valiant and pious； and need not detain us here。 One thing only we will mention； for an accidental reason： That Friedrich； this Year； made a short run to Holland；and that actual momentary sight of him happens thereby to be still possible。
In Summer； 1755； after the West…Country Reviews； and a short Journey into Ost…Friesland； whence to Wesel on the Rhine；whither Friedrich had invited D'Alembert to meet him； whom he finds 〃UN TRES…AIMABLE GARCON；〃 likely for the task in hand；Friedrich decided on a run into Holland： strictly INCOGNITO； accompanied only by Balbi （Engineer； a Genoese） and one page。 Bade his D'Alembert adieu； and left Wesel thitherward June 19th。 ＇Rodenbeck； i。 287。＇ At Amsterdam he viewed the Bramkamp Picture…Gallery； the illustrious Country…house of Jew Pinto at TULPENBURG （Tulip… borough！） 。。。 〃I saw nothing but whim…whams （COLIFICHETS）；〃 says he： 〃I gave myself out for a Musician of the King of Poland；〃 wore a black wig moreover； 〃and was nowhere known：〃 ＇ OEuvres； xxvii。 i。 268 （〃Potsdam； 28th June； 1755；〃 and ib。 p。 270）； to Wilhelmina； who is now on the return from her Italian Journey。 UNCERTAIN Anecdotes of adventures among the whim…whams； in Rodenbeck； &c。＇and； for finis； got into the common Passage…Boat （TREKSCHUIT； no doubt） for Utrecht； that he might see the other fine Country…houses along the Vechte。 Fine enough Country…houses；not mud and sedges the main thing； as idle readers think。 To Arnheim up the Vechte in this manner； Wesel and his own Country just at hand again。
Now it happened that a young Swisspoor enough in purse； but not without talent and eyesight； assistant Teacher in some Boarding… school thereabouts； name of him De Catt； age twenty…seven； 〃born at Morges near Geneva 1728〃had got holiday； or had got errand； poor good soul； had decided； on this same day （23d June； 1755）； to go to Utrecht； and so stept into the very boat where Friedrich was。 He himse
