History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 11 [71]
Prince who had the least regard to honor, truth and
justice, could not act the part he is goingto do." Alas, no,
Excellency Dickens! "But it is plain his only view was, to deceive
us all, and conceal for a while his ambitious and mischievous
designs." [Despatch, 29th November-3d December, 1740: Raumer,
p. 58.] "Never was such dissimulation!" exclaims the Diplomatic
world everywhere, being angered at it, as if it were a vice on the
part of a King about to invade Silesia. Dissimulation, if that
mean mendacity, is not the name of the thing; it is the art of
wearing a polite cloak of darkness, and the King is little
disturbed what name they call it.
Botta did not get to Berlin till December lst, had no Audience
till the 5th;--by which time it is becoming evident to Excellency
Dickens, and to everybody, that Silesia is the thing meant.
Botta hints as much in that first Audience, December 5th:
"Terrible roads, those Silesian ones, your Majesy!" says Botta, as
if historically merely, but with a glance of the eye. "Hm,"
answers his Majesty in the same tone, "the worst that comes of
them is a little mud!"--Next day, Dickens had express Audience,
"Berlin, Tuesday 6th:" a smartish, somewhat flurried Colloquy with
the King; which, well abridged, may stand as follows:--
DICKENS. ... "Indivisibility of the Austrian Monarchy, Sire!"--
KING. "Indivisibility? What do you mean?"--DICKENS. "The
maintenance of the Pragmatic Sanction."--KING. "Do you intend to
support it? I hope not; for such is not my intention." (There is
for you!) ...
DICKENS. "England and Holland will much wonder at the measures
your Majesty was taking, at the moment when your Majesty proposed
to join with them, and were making friendly proposals!" (Has been
a deceitful man, Sir Guy, at least an impenetrable;--but this
latter is rather strong on your part!) "What shall I write to
England?" ("When I mentioned this," says Dickens, "the King grew
red in the face," eyes considerably flashing, I should think.)
KING. "You can have no instructions to ask that question! And if
you had, I have an answer ready for you. England has no right to
inquire into my designs. Your great Sea-Armaments, did I ask you
any questions about them? No; I was and am silent on that head;
only wishing you good luck, and that you may not get beaten by the
Spaniards." (Dickens hastily draws in his rash horns again;
after a pass or two, King's natural color returns.) ...
KING. "Austria as a Power is necessary against the Turks. But in
Germany, what need of Austria being so superlative? Why should
not, say, Three Electors united be able to oppose her? ...
Monsieur, I find it is your notion in England, as well as theirs
in France, to bring other Sovereigns under your tutorage, and lead
them about. Understand that I will not be led by either. ... Tush,
YOU are like the Athenians, who, when Philip of Macedon was ready
to invade them, spent their time in haranguing!"
DICKENS. ... "Berg and Julich, if we were to guarantee them?"--
KING. "Hm. Don't so much mind that Rhine Country: difficulties
there,--Dutch always jealous of one. But, on the other Frontier,
neither England nor Holland could take umbrage,"--points clearly
to Silesia, then, your Excellency Dickens? [Raumer, (from State-
Paper Office), pp. 63, 64.]
Alas, yes! Troops and military equipments are, for days past,
evidently wending towards Frankfurt, towards Crossen, and even the
Newspapers now hint that something is on hand in that quarter.
Nay, this same day, TUESDAY, 6th DECEMBER, there has come out
brief Official Announcement, to all the Foreign Ministers at
Berlin, Excellency Dickens among them, "That his Royal Majesty,
our most all-gracious Herr, has taken the resolution to advance a
Body of Troops into Schlesien,"--rather out of friendly views
towards Austria (much business lying between us about Schlesien),
not out of hostile views by any means, as all Excellencies shall
assure their respective Courts. [Copy of the Paper in
Helden-Geschichte, i.
justice, could not act the part he is goingto do." Alas, no,
Excellency Dickens! "But it is plain his only view was, to deceive
us all, and conceal for a while his ambitious and mischievous
designs." [Despatch, 29th November-3d December, 1740: Raumer,
p. 58.] "Never was such dissimulation!" exclaims the Diplomatic
world everywhere, being angered at it, as if it were a vice on the
part of a King about to invade Silesia. Dissimulation, if that
mean mendacity, is not the name of the thing; it is the art of
wearing a polite cloak of darkness, and the King is little
disturbed what name they call it.
Botta did not get to Berlin till December lst, had no Audience
till the 5th;--by which time it is becoming evident to Excellency
Dickens, and to everybody, that Silesia is the thing meant.
Botta hints as much in that first Audience, December 5th:
"Terrible roads, those Silesian ones, your Majesy!" says Botta, as
if historically merely, but with a glance of the eye. "Hm,"
answers his Majesty in the same tone, "the worst that comes of
them is a little mud!"--Next day, Dickens had express Audience,
"Berlin, Tuesday 6th:" a smartish, somewhat flurried Colloquy with
the King; which, well abridged, may stand as follows:--
DICKENS. ... "Indivisibility of the Austrian Monarchy, Sire!"--
KING. "Indivisibility? What do you mean?"--DICKENS. "The
maintenance of the Pragmatic Sanction."--KING. "Do you intend to
support it? I hope not; for such is not my intention." (There is
for you!) ...
DICKENS. "England and Holland will much wonder at the measures
your Majesty was taking, at the moment when your Majesty proposed
to join with them, and were making friendly proposals!" (Has been
a deceitful man, Sir Guy, at least an impenetrable;--but this
latter is rather strong on your part!) "What shall I write to
England?" ("When I mentioned this," says Dickens, "the King grew
red in the face," eyes considerably flashing, I should think.)
KING. "You can have no instructions to ask that question! And if
you had, I have an answer ready for you. England has no right to
inquire into my designs. Your great Sea-Armaments, did I ask you
any questions about them? No; I was and am silent on that head;
only wishing you good luck, and that you may not get beaten by the
Spaniards." (Dickens hastily draws in his rash horns again;
after a pass or two, King's natural color returns.) ...
KING. "Austria as a Power is necessary against the Turks. But in
Germany, what need of Austria being so superlative? Why should
not, say, Three Electors united be able to oppose her? ...
Monsieur, I find it is your notion in England, as well as theirs
in France, to bring other Sovereigns under your tutorage, and lead
them about. Understand that I will not be led by either. ... Tush,
YOU are like the Athenians, who, when Philip of Macedon was ready
to invade them, spent their time in haranguing!"
DICKENS. ... "Berg and Julich, if we were to guarantee them?"--
KING. "Hm. Don't so much mind that Rhine Country: difficulties
there,--Dutch always jealous of one. But, on the other Frontier,
neither England nor Holland could take umbrage,"--points clearly
to Silesia, then, your Excellency Dickens? [Raumer, (from State-
Paper Office), pp. 63, 64.]
Alas, yes! Troops and military equipments are, for days past,
evidently wending towards Frankfurt, towards Crossen, and even the
Newspapers now hint that something is on hand in that quarter.
Nay, this same day, TUESDAY, 6th DECEMBER, there has come out
brief Official Announcement, to all the Foreign Ministers at
Berlin, Excellency Dickens among them, "That his Royal Majesty,
our most all-gracious Herr, has taken the resolution to advance a
Body of Troops into Schlesien,"--rather out of friendly views
towards Austria (much business lying between us about Schlesien),
not out of hostile views by any means, as all Excellencies shall
assure their respective Courts. [Copy of the Paper in
Helden-Geschichte,