History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [52]
how Dehortatoriums
go, he sends his Ambassadors to Berlin, his apologies, proposals:
[Ambassadors arrived 28th September; last Dehortatorium not yet
out. Business was completed 20th October (Rodenbeck, IN DIEBUS).]
"Would not your Majesty perhaps consent to sell this Herstal, as
your Father of glorious memory was pleased to be willing once?"--
Friedrich answers straightway to the effect: "Certainly! Pay me
the price it was once already offered for: 100,000 thalers, PLUS
the expenses since incurred. That will be 180,000 thalers, besides
what you have spent already on General Borck's days' wages.
To which we will add thatwretched little fraction of Old Debt,
clear as noon, but never paid nor any part of it; 60,000 thalers,
due by the See of Liege ever since the Treaty of Utrecht; 60,000,
for which we will charge no interest: that will make 240,000
thalers,--36,000 pounds, instead of the old sum you might have had
it at. Produce that cash; and take Herstal, and all the dust that
has risen out of it, well home with you." [Stenzel, iv. 60, who
counts in gulden, and is not distinct.] The Bishop thankfully
complies in all points; negotiation speedily done ("20th Oct." the
final date): Bishop has not, I think, quite so much cash on hand;
but will pay all he has, and 4 per centum interest till the whole
be liquidated. His Ambassadors "get gold snuffboxes;" and return
mildly glad!
And thus, in some six weeks after Borck's arrival in those parts,
Borck's function is well done. The noise of Gazettes and
Diplomatic circles lays itself again; and Herstal, famous once for
King Pipin, and famous again for King Friedrich, lapses at length
into obscurity, which we hope will never end. Hope;--though who
can say? ROUCOUX, quite close upon it, becomes a Battle-ground in
some few years; and memorabilities go much at random in
this world!
Chapter VI.
RETURNS BY HANOVER; DOES NOT CALL ON HIS ROYAL UNCLE THERE.
Friedrich spent ten days on his circuitous journey home;
considerable inspection to be done, in Minden, Magdeburg, not to
speak of other businesses he had. The old Newspapers are still
more intent upon him, now that the Herstal Affair has broken into
flame: especially the English Newspapers; who guess that there are
passages of courtship going on between great George their King and
him. Here is one fact, correct in every point, for the old London
Public: "Letters from Hanover say, that the King of Prussia passed
within a small distance of that City the 16th inst. N.S., on his
return to Berlin, but did not stop at Herrenhausen;"--about which
there has been such hoping and speculating among us lately.
[ Daily Post, 22d September, 1740;
other London Newspapers from July 31st downwards.] A fact which
the extinct Editor seems to meditate for a day or two; after which
he says (partly in ITALICS), opening his lips the second time,
like a Friar Bacon's Head significant to the Public: "Letters from
Hanover tell us that the Interview, which it was said his Majesty
was to have with the King of Prussia, did not take place, for
certain PRIVATE REASONS, which our Correspondent leaves us to
guess at!"
It is well known Friedrich did not love his little Uncle, then or
thenceforth; still less his little Uncle him: "What is this
Prussia, rising alongside of us, higher and higher, as if it would
reach our own sublime level!" thinks the little Uncle to himself.
At present there is no quarrel between them; on the contrary, as
we have seen, there is a mutual capability of helping one another,
which both recognize; but will an interview tend to forward that
useful result? Friedrich, in the intervals of an ague, with
Herstal just broken out, may have wisely decided, No. "Our sublime
little Uncle, of the waxy complexion, with the proudly staring
fish-eyes,--no wit in him, not much sense, and a great deal of
pride,--stands dreadfully erect, 'plumb and more,' with the
Garter-leg advanced, when one goes to see him; and his remarks are
not of an entertaining nature.
go, he sends his Ambassadors to Berlin, his apologies, proposals:
[Ambassadors arrived 28th September; last Dehortatorium not yet
out. Business was completed 20th October (Rodenbeck, IN DIEBUS).]
"Would not your Majesty perhaps consent to sell this Herstal, as
your Father of glorious memory was pleased to be willing once?"--
Friedrich answers straightway to the effect: "Certainly! Pay me
the price it was once already offered for: 100,000 thalers, PLUS
the expenses since incurred. That will be 180,000 thalers, besides
what you have spent already on General Borck's days' wages.
To which we will add thatwretched little fraction of Old Debt,
clear as noon, but never paid nor any part of it; 60,000 thalers,
due by the See of Liege ever since the Treaty of Utrecht; 60,000,
for which we will charge no interest: that will make 240,000
thalers,--36,000 pounds, instead of the old sum you might have had
it at. Produce that cash; and take Herstal, and all the dust that
has risen out of it, well home with you." [Stenzel, iv. 60, who
counts in gulden, and is not distinct.] The Bishop thankfully
complies in all points; negotiation speedily done ("20th Oct." the
final date): Bishop has not, I think, quite so much cash on hand;
but will pay all he has, and 4 per centum interest till the whole
be liquidated. His Ambassadors "get gold snuffboxes;" and return
mildly glad!
And thus, in some six weeks after Borck's arrival in those parts,
Borck's function is well done. The noise of Gazettes and
Diplomatic circles lays itself again; and Herstal, famous once for
King Pipin, and famous again for King Friedrich, lapses at length
into obscurity, which we hope will never end. Hope;--though who
can say? ROUCOUX, quite close upon it, becomes a Battle-ground in
some few years; and memorabilities go much at random in
this world!
Chapter VI.
RETURNS BY HANOVER; DOES NOT CALL ON HIS ROYAL UNCLE THERE.
Friedrich spent ten days on his circuitous journey home;
considerable inspection to be done, in Minden, Magdeburg, not to
speak of other businesses he had. The old Newspapers are still
more intent upon him, now that the Herstal Affair has broken into
flame: especially the English Newspapers; who guess that there are
passages of courtship going on between great George their King and
him. Here is one fact, correct in every point, for the old London
Public: "Letters from Hanover say, that the King of Prussia passed
within a small distance of that City the 16th inst. N.S., on his
return to Berlin, but did not stop at Herrenhausen;"--about which
there has been such hoping and speculating among us lately.
[
other London Newspapers from July 31st downwards.] A fact which
the extinct Editor seems to meditate for a day or two; after which
he says (partly in ITALICS), opening his lips the second time,
like a Friar Bacon's Head significant to the Public: "Letters from
Hanover tell us that the Interview, which it was said his Majesty
was to have with the King of Prussia, did not take place, for
certain PRIVATE REASONS, which our Correspondent leaves us to
guess at!"
It is well known Friedrich did not love his little Uncle, then or
thenceforth; still less his little Uncle him: "What is this
Prussia, rising alongside of us, higher and higher, as if it would
reach our own sublime level!" thinks the little Uncle to himself.
At present there is no quarrel between them; on the contrary, as
we have seen, there is a mutual capability of helping one another,
which both recognize; but will an interview tend to forward that
useful result? Friedrich, in the intervals of an ague, with
Herstal just broken out, may have wisely decided, No. "Our sublime
little Uncle, of the waxy complexion, with the proudly staring
fish-eyes,--no wit in him, not much sense, and a great deal of
pride,--stands dreadfully erect, 'plumb and more,' with the
Garter-leg advanced, when one goes to see him; and his remarks are
not of an entertaining nature.