History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [63]
all the," &c.
&c.;--Sovereign Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary and
Bohemia, for chief items. "At seven her Majesty took the Oath from
the Generals and Presidents of Tribunals,--said, through her
tears, 'All was to stand on the old footing, each in his post,'"--
and the other needful words. Couriers shoot forth towards all
Countries;--one express courier to Regensburg, and the enchanted
Wiggeries there, to say That a new Kaiser will be needed;
REICHS-Vicar or Vicars (Kur-Sachsen and whoever more, for they are
sometimes disagreed about it) will have to administer in
the interim.
A second courier we saw arrive at Reinsberg; he likewise may be
important. The Bavarian Minister, Karl Albert Kur-Baiern's man,
shot off his express, like the others; answer is, by return of
courier, or even earlier (for a messenger was already on the
road), Make protest! "We Kur-Baiern solemnly protest against
Pragmatic Sanction, and the assumption of such Titles by the
Daughter of the late Kaiser. King of Bohemia, and in good part
even of Austria, it is not you, Madam, but of right WE; as, by
Heaven's help, it is our fixed resolution to make good!"
Protest was presented, accordingly, with all the solemnities,
without loss of a moment. To which Bartenstein and the Authorities
answered "Pooh-pooh," as if it were nothing. It is the first
ripple of an immeasurable tide or deluge in that kind, threatening
to submerge the new Majesty of Hungary;--as had been foreseen at
Reinsberg; though Bartenstein and the Authorities made light of
it, answering "Pooh-pooh," or almost "Ha-ha," for the present.
Her Hungarian Majesty's chief Generals, Seckendorf, Wallis,
Neipperg, sit in their respective prison-wards at this time (from
which she soon liberates them): Kur-Baiern has lodged protest;
at Reinsberg there will be an important resolution ready:--and in
the Austrian Treasury (which employs 40,000 persons, big and
little) there is of cash or available, resource, 100,000 florins,
that is to say, 10,000 pounds net. [Mailath, Geschichte
des Oestreichischen Kaiserstaats (Hamburg, 1850),
v. 8.] And unless Pragmatic sheepskin hold tighter than some
persons expect, the affairs of Austria and of this young
Archduchess are in a threatening way.
His Britannic Majesty was on the road home, about Helvoetsluys or
on the sea for Harwich, that night the Kaiser died; of whose
illness he had heard nothing. At London, ten days after, the
sudden news struck dismally upon his Majesty and the Political
Circles there: "No help, then, from that quarter, in our Spanish
War; perhaps far other than help!"--Nay, certain Gazetteers were
afraid the grand new Anti-Spanish Expedition itself, which was
now, at the long last, after such confusions and delays, lying
ready, in great strength, Naval and Military, would be
countermanded,--on Pragmatic-Sanction considerations, and the
crisis probably imminent. [London Newspapers (31st Oct.-6th Nov.,
1740). But it was not countermanded; it sailed all the same,
"November 6th" (seventh day after the bad news); and made towards
--Shall we tell the reader, what is Officially a dead secret,
though by this time well guessed at by the Public, English and
also Spanish?--towards Carthagena, to reinforce fiery Vernon, in
the tropical latitudes; and overset Spanish America, beginning
with that important Town!
Commodore Anson, he also, after long fatal delays, is off, several
weeks ago; [29th (18th) September, 1740.] round Cape Horn; hoping
(or perhaps already not hoping) to co-operate from the Other
Ocean, and be simultaneous with Vernon,--on these loose principles
of keeping time! Commodore Anson does, in effect, make a Voyage
which is beautiful, and to mankind memorable; but as to keeping
tryst with Vernon, the very gods could not do it on those terms!
Chapter IX.
RESOLUTION FORMED AT REINSBERG IN CONSEQUENCE.
Thursday, 27th October, two days after the Expresses went for
them, Schwerin and Podewils punctually arrived at Reinsberg.
They were carried
&c.;--Sovereign Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary and
Bohemia, for chief items. "At seven her Majesty took the Oath from
the Generals and Presidents of Tribunals,--said, through her
tears, 'All was to stand on the old footing, each in his post,'"--
and the other needful words. Couriers shoot forth towards all
Countries;--one express courier to Regensburg, and the enchanted
Wiggeries there, to say That a new Kaiser will be needed;
REICHS-Vicar or Vicars (Kur-Sachsen and whoever more, for they are
sometimes disagreed about it) will have to administer in
the interim.
A second courier we saw arrive at Reinsberg; he likewise may be
important. The Bavarian Minister, Karl Albert Kur-Baiern's man,
shot off his express, like the others; answer is, by return of
courier, or even earlier (for a messenger was already on the
road), Make protest! "We Kur-Baiern solemnly protest against
Pragmatic Sanction, and the assumption of such Titles by the
Daughter of the late Kaiser. King of Bohemia, and in good part
even of Austria, it is not you, Madam, but of right WE; as, by
Heaven's help, it is our fixed resolution to make good!"
Protest was presented, accordingly, with all the solemnities,
without loss of a moment. To which Bartenstein and the Authorities
answered "Pooh-pooh," as if it were nothing. It is the first
ripple of an immeasurable tide or deluge in that kind, threatening
to submerge the new Majesty of Hungary;--as had been foreseen at
Reinsberg; though Bartenstein and the Authorities made light of
it, answering "Pooh-pooh," or almost "Ha-ha," for the present.
Her Hungarian Majesty's chief Generals, Seckendorf, Wallis,
Neipperg, sit in their respective prison-wards at this time (from
which she soon liberates them): Kur-Baiern has lodged protest;
at Reinsberg there will be an important resolution ready:--and in
the Austrian Treasury (which employs 40,000 persons, big and
little) there is of cash or available, resource, 100,000 florins,
that is to say, 10,000 pounds net. [Mailath,
des Oestreichischen Kaiserstaats
v. 8.] And unless Pragmatic sheepskin hold tighter than some
persons expect, the affairs of Austria and of this young
Archduchess are in a threatening way.
His Britannic Majesty was on the road home, about Helvoetsluys or
on the sea for Harwich, that night the Kaiser died; of whose
illness he had heard nothing. At London, ten days after, the
sudden news struck dismally upon his Majesty and the Political
Circles there: "No help, then, from that quarter, in our Spanish
War; perhaps far other than help!"--Nay, certain Gazetteers were
afraid the grand new Anti-Spanish Expedition itself, which was
now, at the long last, after such confusions and delays, lying
ready, in great strength, Naval and Military, would be
countermanded,--on Pragmatic-Sanction considerations, and the
crisis probably imminent. [London Newspapers (31st Oct.-6th Nov.,
1740). But it was not countermanded; it sailed all the same,
"November 6th" (seventh day after the bad news); and made towards
--Shall we tell the reader, what is Officially a dead secret,
though by this time well guessed at by the Public, English and
also Spanish?--towards Carthagena, to reinforce fiery Vernon, in
the tropical latitudes; and overset Spanish America, beginning
with that important Town!
Commodore Anson, he also, after long fatal delays, is off, several
weeks ago; [29th (18th) September, 1740.] round Cape Horn; hoping
(or perhaps already not hoping) to co-operate from the Other
Ocean, and be simultaneous with Vernon,--on these loose principles
of keeping time! Commodore Anson does, in effect, make a Voyage
which is beautiful, and to mankind memorable; but as to keeping
tryst with Vernon, the very gods could not do it on those terms!
Chapter IX.
RESOLUTION FORMED AT REINSBERG IN CONSEQUENCE.
Thursday, 27th October, two days after the Expresses went for
them, Schwerin and Podewils punctually arrived at Reinsberg.
They were carried