history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第10节
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zow Junior; a rational; sincere; but rather pipe…clayed man; who is wholly to be trusted on this Conference; with his Father for authority; has some touches of commentary on it; which indicate (date being 1802) that till the end of his life; or of Prince Henri his Patron's; there remained always in some heads a doubt as to Friedrich's wisdom in regard to starting the Seven…Years War; and to Schwerin's entire sincerity in that inspired speech。 And still more curious; that there was always; at Potsdam as elsewhere; a Majesty's Opposition Party; privately intent to look at the wrong side; and doing it diligently;though with lips strictly closed for most part; without words; except well…weighed and to the wise: which is an excellent arrangement; for a Majesty and Majesty's Opposition; where feasible in the world!
From Retzow I learn farther; that Winterfeld; directly on the back of this Conference; took a Tour to the Bohemian Baths; 〃To Karlsbad; or Toplitz; for one's health;〃 and wandered about a good deal in those Frontier Mountains of Bohemia; taking notes; taking sketches (not with a picturesque view); and returned by the Saxon Pirna Country; a strange stony labyrinth; which he guessed might possibly be interesting soon。 The Saxon Commandant of the Konigstein; lofty Fortress of those parts; strongest in Saxony; was of Winterfeld's acquaintance: Winterfeld called on this Commandant; found his Konigstein too high for cannonading those neighborhoods; but that there was at the base of it a new Work going on; and that the Saxons were; though languidly; endeavoring to bestir themselves in matters military。 Their entire Army at present is under 20;000; but; in the course of next Winter; they expect to have it 40;000。 Shall be of that force; against Season 1757。 No doubt Winterfeld's gatherings and communications had their uses at Potsdam; on his getting home from this Tour to Toplitz。
Meanwhile; Klinggraf has had his Audience at Vienna; and has sped as ill as could have been expected。 The Answer given was of supercilious brevity; evasive; in effect null; and as good as answering; That there is no answer。 Two Accounts we have; as Friedrich successively had them; of this famed passage: FIRST; Klinggraf's own; which is clear; rapid; and stands by the essential; SECOND; an account from the other side of the scenes; furnished by Menzel of Dresden; for Friedrich's behoof and ours; which curiously illustrates the foregoing; and confirms the interpretation Friedrich at once made of it。 This is Menzel's account; in other words; the Saxon Envoy at Vienna's; stolen by Menzel。
July 26th; it appears; Klinggrafhaving applied to Kaunitz the day before; who noticed a certain flurry in him; and had answered carelessly; 〃Audience? Yes; of course; nay I am this moment going to the Empress: only you must tell me about what?〃was admitted to the Imperial Presence; he first of many that were waiting。 Imperial Presence held in its hand a snip of Paper; carefully composed by Kaunitz from the data; and read these words: 〃DIE BEDENKLICHEN UMSTANDE; The questionable circumstances of the Time have moved me to consider as indispensably necessary those measures which; for my own security and for defence of my Allies; I am taking; and which otherwise do not tend the least towards injury of anybody whatsoever;〃and adding no syllable more; gave a sign with her hand; intimating to Klinggraf that the Interview was done。 Klinggraf strode through the Antechamber; 〃visibly astonished;〃 say on…lookers; at such an Answer had。 Answer; in fact; 〃That there is no answer;〃 and the door flung in your face! ' Helden… Geschichte; iii。 772。 In Valori; ii。 128; Friedrich's little Paper of INSTRUCTIONS to Klinggraf; this Vienna ANSWER to it; ib。 138:see ib。 138; 162; and Gesammelte Nachrichten; ii。 214…221。'
Friedrich; on arrival of report from Klinggraf; and without waiting for the Menzel side of the scenes; sees that the thing is settled。 Writes again; however (August 2d; probably the day after; or the same day; Klinggraf's Despatch reached him); instructing Klinggraf To request 〃a less oracular response;〃 and specially; 〃If her Imperial Majesty (Austria and Russia being; as is understood; in active League against; him) will say; That Austria will not attack him this year or the next?〃 Draw up memorial of that; Monsieur Klinggraf; and send us the supercilious No…Answer: till which arrive we do not cross the Frontier;but are already everywhere on march to it; in an industrious; cunningly devised; evident and yet impenetrably mysterious manner。
Excellency Valori never saw such activity of military preparation: such Artillery; 〃2;000 big pieces in the Park here;〃 Regiments; Wagon…trains; getting under way everywhere; no man can guess whitherward; 〃drawn up in the Square here; they know not by what Gate they are to march。〃 By three different Gates; I should think; mysteriously; in Three Directions; known only to King Friedrich and his Adjutant…General; all these Regiments in Berlin and elsewhere are on march。 Towards Halle (Leipzig way); towards Brietzen (Wittenberg and Torgau way); towards Bautzen neighborhood;towards Three settled Points of the Saxon Frontier; will step across the instant the supercilious No…Answer comes to hand。 Are to converge about Dresden and the Saxon Switzerland; about 65;000 strong; equipped as no Army before or since has been; and take what luck there may be。
Bruhl and Polish Majesty's Army; still only about 18;000; have their apprehensions of such visit: but what can they do? The Saxon Army draws out into Camp; at sight of this mysterious marching; strong Camp 〃in the angle of Elbe and Mulde Rivers;〃then draws in again; being too weak for use。 And is thinking; Menzel informs us; to take post in the stony labyrinthic Pirna Country: such the advice an Excellency Broglio has given;French Excellency; now in Dresden; Marechal de Broglio's Son; and of little less explosive nature than his Father was。 Bruhl and Polish Majesty; guessing that the hour is come; are infinitely interested。 Interested; not flurried。 〃Austrian…Russian Anti…Prussian Covenant!〃 say Bruhl and Majesty; rather comfortably to themselves: 〃We never signed it。 WE never would sign anything; what have we to do with it? Courage; steady; To Pirna; if they come! Are not Excellency Broglio; and France; and Austria; and the whole world at our back?〃
It was full three weeks before Klinggraf's Message of Answer could arrive at Berlin。 Of Friedrich in the interim; launching such a world…adventure; himself silent; in the midst of a buzzing Berlin; take these indications; which are luminous enough。 Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick is to head one of the Three 〃Columns。〃 Duke Ferdinand; Governor of Magdeburg; is now collecting his Column in that neighborhood; chiefly at Halle; whitherward; or on what errand; is profoundly unknown。 Unknown even to Ferdinand; except that it is for actual Service in the Field。 Here are two Friedrich Letters (ruggedly Official; the first of them; and not quite peculiar to Ferdinand); which are worth reading:
THE KING TO DUKE FERDINAND OF BRUNSWICK。
〃POTSDAM; 15th August; 1756。
〃For time of Field…Service I have made the arrangement; That for the Subaltern Officers of your regiment; over and above their ordinary Equipage…moneys; there shall; to each Subaltern Officer; and once for all; be Eight Thalers 'twenty…four shillings sterling' advanced。 That sum 'eight thalers per subaltern' shall be paid to the Captain of every Company; and besides this there shall; monthly; Two Thalers be deducted from the Subaltern's Pay; and be likewise paid over to the Captain:in return for which; He is to furnish Free Table for the Subalterns throughout the Campaign; and so long as the regiment is in the field。
〃Of the Two Baggage…carts per Company; the regiment shall take only One; and leave the other at home。 No Officer; let him be who or of what title he will; Generals not excepted; shall take with him the least of Silver Plate; not even a silver spoon。 Whoever wants; therefore; to keep table; great or small (TAFEL ODER TISCH); must manage the same with tin utensils;without exception; be he who he will。
〃Each Captain shall take with him a little Cask of Vinegar; of which; as soon as the regiments get to Camp; he must give me reckoning; and I will then have him repaid。 This Vinegar shall solely and exclusively be employed for this purpose; That in places where the water is bad; there be poured into it; for the soldiers; a few drops of the vinegar; to correct the water; and thereby preserve them from illnesses。
〃So soon as the regiment gets on march; the Women who have permission to follow are put under command of the Profoss; that thereby all plunderings and disorders may the more be guarded against。 If the Captains and Officers take Grooms (JAGER) or the like Domestics; there can muskets be given to these; that use may be had of them; in case of an attack in quarters; or on march; when a WAGENBURG (wagon…fortress) is to be formed。 。。。 FRIEDRICH。〃 'Preuss; ii。 6; 7。'
SAME TO SAME (Confidential; this one)。
〃POTSDAH; 24th August。
。。。 〃Make as if you were meaning to go into Camp at Halle。 The reason why I stop you is; that the