Book: History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 21

T >> Thomas Carlyle >> History of Friedrich II of Prussia V 21




"I forgot a little Incident which gave me an opportunity of setting
off (FAIRE VALOIR) the two Monarchs to each other [Incident about
the King's high opinion of the Kaiser's drill-sergeantry in this
day's manoeuvres, and how I was the happy cause of the Kaiser's
hearing it himself: Incident omissible; as the whole Sequel is,
except a sentence or two].--

... "On this Neustadt occasion, the King was sometimes too
ceremonious; which annoyed the Kaiser. For instance,--I know not
whether meaning to show himself a disciplined Elector of the Reich,
but so it was,--whenever the Kaiser put his foot in stirrup, the
King was sure to take his Majesty's horse by the bridle, stand
respectfully waiting the Kaiser's right foot, and fit it into ITS
stirrup: and so with everything else. The Kaiser had the more
sincere appearance, in testifying his great respect; like that of a
young Prince to an aged King, and of a young Soldier to the
greatest of Captains. ...

"Sometimes there were appearances of cordiality between the two
Sovereigns. One saw that Friedrich II. loved Joseph II., but that
the preponderance of the Empire, and the contact of Bohemia and
Silesia, a good deal barred the sentiments of King and Kaiser.
You remember, Sire [Ex-Sire of Poland], their LETTERS [readers
shall see them, in 1778,--or rather REFUSE to see them!'] on the
subject of Bavaria; their compliments, the explanations they had
with regard to their intentions; all carried on with such
politeness; and that from politeness to politeness, the King ended
by invading Bohemia."

Well, here is legible record, with something really of portraiture
in it, valuable so far as it goes; record unique on this subject;--
and substantially true, though inexact enough in details.
Thus, even in regard to that of Anhalt's HEAD, which is so
impossible in this First Dialogue, Friedrich did most probably say
something of the kind, in a Second which there is, of date 1780;
of which latter De Ligne is here giving account as well,--though we
have to postpone it till its time come.

At this Neustadt Interview there did something of Political occur;
and readers ought to be shown exactly what. Kaunitz had come with
the Kaiser; and this something was intended as the real business
among the gayeties and galas at Neustadt. Poland, or its Farce-
Tragedy now playing, was not once mentioned that I hear of;
though perhaps, as FLEBILE LUDIBRIUM, it might turn up for moments
in dinner-conversation or the like: but the astonishing Russian-
Turk War, which has sprung out of Poland, and has already filled
Stamboul and its Divans and Muftis with mere horror and amazement;
and, in fact, has brought the Grand Turk to the giddy rim of the
Abyss; nothing but ruin and destruction visible to him:
this, beyond all other things whatever, is occupying these high
heads at present;--and indeed the two latest bits of Russian-Turk
news have been of such a blazing character as to occupy all the
world more or less. Readers, some glances into the Turk War, I
grieve to say, are become inevitable to us!


RUSSIAN-TURK WAR, FIRST TWO CAMPAIGNS.

"OCTOBER 6th, 1768, Turks declare War; Russian Ambassador thrown
into the Seven Towers as a preliminary, where he sat till Peace
came to be needed. MARCH 23d, 1769, Display their Banner of
Mahomet, all in paroxysm of Fanaticism risen to the burning point:
'Under pain of death, No Giaour of you appear on the streets, nor
even look out, of window, this day!' Austrian Ambassador's Wife, a
beautiful gossamer creature, venturing to transgress on that point,
was torn from her carriage by the Populace, and with difficulty
saved from destruction: Brother of the Sun and Moon, apologizing
afterwards down to the very shoe-tie, is forgiven."

FIRST CAMPAIGN; 1769. "APRIL 26th-30th, Galitzin VERSUS Choczim;
can't, having no provender or powder. Falls back over Dniester
again,--overhears that extraordinary DREAM, as above recited,
betokening great rumor in Russian Society against such Purblind
Commanders-in-Chief. Purblind VERSUS Blind is fine play,
nevertheless; wait, only wait:--

"JULY 2d, Galitzin slowly gets on the advance again: 150,000 Turks,
still slower, are at last across the Donau (sharp enough French
Officers among them, agents of Choiseul; but a mass incurably
chaotic);--furiously intending towards Poland and extermination of
the Giaour. Do not reach Dniester River till September, and look
across on Poland,--for the first time, and also for the last, in
this War. SEPTEMBER 17th: Weather has been rainy; Dniester, were
Galitzin nothing, is very difficult for Turks; who try in two
places, but cannot. [Hermann, v. 611-613.] In a third place (name
not given, perhaps has no name), about 12,000 of them are across;
when Dniester, raging into flood, carries away their one Bridge,
and leaves the 12,000 isolated there. Purblind Galitzin, on express
order, does attack these 12,000 (night of September 17th-18th):--
'Hurrah' of the devouring Russians about midnight, hoarse shriek of
the doomed 12,000, wail of their brethren on the southern shore,
who cannot, help:--night of horrors 'from midnight till 2 A.M.;'
and the 12,000 massacred or captive, every man of them;
Russian loss 600 killed and wounded. Whereupon the Turk Army bursts
into unanimous insanity; and flows home in deliquium of ruin.
Choczim is got on the terms already mentioned (15 sick men and
women lying in it, and 184 bronze cannon, when we boat across);
Turk Army can by no effort be brought to halt anywhere;
flows across the Donau, disappears into Chaos:--and the whole of
Moldavia is conquered in this cheap manner. What, perhaps is still
better, Galitzin (28th September) is thrown out; Romanzow, hitherto
Commander of a second smaller Army, kind of covering wing to
Galitzin, is Chief for Second Campaign.

"In the Humber, this Winter, to the surprise of incredulous
mankind, a Russian Fleet drops anchor for a few days:
actual Russian Fleet intending for the Greek waters, for Montenegro
and intermediate errands, to conclude with 'Liberation of Greece
next Spring,'--so grandiose is this Czarina." [Hermann, v. 617.]

SECOND CAMPAIGN; 1770. "This is the flower of Anti-Turk Campaigns,
--victorious, to a blazing pitch, both by land and sea.
Romanzow, master of Moldavia, goes upon Wallachia, and the new or
rehabilitated Turk Army; and has an almost gratis bargain of both.
Romanzow has some good Officers under him ('Brigadier Stoffeln,'
much more 'General Tottlenen,' 'General Bauer,' once Colonel Bauer
of the Wesel Free-Corps,--many of the Superior Officers seem to be
German, others have Swedish or Danish names);--better Officers;
and knows better how to use them than Galitzin did. August 1st,
Romanzow has a Battle, called of Kaghul, in Pruth Country. That is
his one 'Battle' this Summer; and brings him Ismail, Akkerman, all
Wallachey, and no Turks left in those parts. But first let us
attend to sea-matters, and the Liberation of Greece, which precede
in time and importance.

"'Liberation of Greece:' an actual Fleet, steering from Cronstadt
to the Dardanelles to liberate Greece! The sound of it kindles all
the warm heads in Europe; especially Voltaire's, which, though
covered with the snow of age, is still warm internally on such
points. As to liberating Greece, Voltaire's hopes were utterly
balked; but the Fleet from Cronstadt did amazing service otherwise
in those waters. FEBRUARY 28th, 1770, first squadron of the Russian
Fleet anchors at Passawa,--not far from Calamata, in the Gulf of
Coron, on the antique Peloponnesian coast; Sparta on your right
hand, Arcadia on your left, and so many excellent Ghosts
(?#J&JL +J&) of Heroes looking on:--Russian squadron has four big
^^^^^^^^^^^^--(THIS IS GREEK TEXT) PAGE 291, BOOK XXI-------

-----------------------------------------------------

ships, three frigates, more soon to follow: on board there are arms
and munitions of war; but unhappily only 500 soldiers. Admiral-in-
Chief (not yet come up) is Alexei Orlof, a brother of Lover
Gregory's, an extremely worthless seaman and man. Has under him
'many Danes, a good few English too,'--especially Three English
Officers, whom we shall hear of, when Alexei and they come up.
Meanwhile, on the Peloponnesian coast are modern Spartans, to the
number of 15,000, all sitting ready, expecting the Russian advent:
these rose duly; got Russian muskets, cartridges,--only two Russian
Officers:--and attacked the Turks with considerable fury or
voracity, but with no success of the least solidity. Were foiled
here, driven out there; in fine, were utterly beaten, Russians and
they: lost Tripolizza, by surprise; whereupon (April 19th) the
Russians withdrew to their Fleet; and the Affair of Greece was at
an end. [Hermann, v. 621.] It had lasted (28th February-19th April)
seven weeks and a day. The Russians retired to their Fleet, with
little loss; and rode at their ease again, in Navarino Bay. But the
15,000 modern Spartans had nothing to retire to,--these had to
retire into extinction, expulsion and the throat of Moslem
vengeance, which was frightfully bloody and inexorable on them.

"Greece having failed, the Russian Fleet, now in complete tale,
made for Turkey, for Constantinople itself. 'Into the very
Dardanelles' they say they will go; an Englishman among them--
Captain Elphinstone, a dashing seaman, if perhaps rather noisy,
whom Rulhiere is not blind to--has been heard to declare, at least
in his cups: 'Dardanelles impossible? Pshaw, I will do it, as
easily as drink this glass of wine!' Alexei Orlof is a Sham-
Admiral; but under him are real Sea-Officers, one or two.

"In the Turkish Fleet, it seems, there is an Ex-Algerine, Hassan
Bey, of some capacity in sea-matters; but he is not in chief
command, only in second; and can accomplish nothing. The Turkish
Fleet, numerous but rotten, retires daily,--through the famed
Cyclades, and Isles of Greece, Paros, Naxos, apocalyptic Patmos, on
to Scio (old Chios of the wines); and on July 5th takes refuge
behind Scio, between Scio and the Coast of Smyrna, in Tchesme Bay.
'Safe here!' thinks the chief Turk Admiral. 'Very far from safe!'
remonstrates Hassan; though to no purpose. And privately puts the
question to himself, 'Have these Giaours a real Admiral among them,
or, like us, only a sham one?'"

TCHESME BAY, 7th JULY, 1770. "Nothing can be more imaginary than
Alexei Orlof as an Admiral: but he has a Captain Elphinstone, a
Captain Gregg, a Lieutenant Dugdale; and these determine to burn
poor Hassan and his whole Fleet in Tchesme here:--and do it
totally, night of July 7th; with one single fireship; Dugdale
steering it; Gregg behind him, to support with broadsides;
Elphinstone ruling and contriving, still farther to rear;
helpless Turk Fleet able to make no debate whatever. Such a blaze
of conflagration on the helpless Turks as shone over all the world
--one of Rulhiere's finest fire-works, with little shot;--the light
of which was still dazzling mankind while the Interview at Neustadt
took place. Turk Fleet, fifteen ships, nine frigates and above
8,000 men, gone to gases and to black cinders,--Hassan hardly
escaping with I forget how many score of wounds and bruises.
[Hermann, v. 623.]

"'Now for the Dardanelles,' said Elphinstone: (bombard
Constantinople, starve it,--to death, or to what terms you will!'
'Cannot be done; too dangerous; impossible!' answered the sham
Admiral, quite in a tremor, they say;--which at length filled the
measure of Elphinstone's disgusts with such a Fleet and Admiral.
Indignant Elphinstone withdrew to his own ship, 'Adieu, Sham-
Admiral!'--sailed with his own ship, through the impossible
Dardanelles (Turk batteries firing one huge block of granite at
him, which missed; then needing about forty minutes to load again);
feat as easy to Elphinstone as this glass of wine. In sight of
Constantinople, Elphinstone, furthermore, called for his tea; took
his tea on deck, under flourishing of all his drums and all his
trumpets: tea done, sailed out again scathless; instantly threw up
his command,--and at Petersburg, soon after, in taking leave of the
Czarina, signified to her, in language perhaps too plain, or
perhaps only too painfully true, some Naval facts which were not
welcome in that high quarter." [Rulhiere, iii. 476-509.] This
remarkable Elphinstone I take to be some junior or irregular
Balmerino scion; but could never much hear of him except in
RULHIERE, where, on vague, somewhat theatrical terms, he figures
as above.

"AUGUST 1st, Romanzow has a 'Battle of Kaghul,' so they call it;
though it is a 'Slaughtery' or SCHLACHTEREI, rather than a
'Slaught' or SCHLACHT, say my German friends. Kaghul is not a
specific place, but a longish river, a branch of the Pruth;
under screen of which the Grand Turk Army, 100,000 strong, with
100,000 Tartars as second line, has finally taken position, and
fortified itself with earthworks and abundant cannon. AUGUST 1st,
1770, Romanzow, after study and advising, feels prepared for this
Grand Army and its earthworks: with a select 20,000, under select
captains, Romanzow, after nightfall, bursts in upon it,
simultaneously on three different points; and gains, gratis or
nearly so, such a victory as was never heard of before. The Turks,
on their earthworks, had 140 cannons; these the Turk gunners fired
off two times, and fled, leaving them for Romanzow's uses. The Turk
cavalry then tried if they could not make some attempt at charging;
found they could not; whirled back upon their infantry; set it also
whirling: and in a word, the whole 200,000 whirled, without blow
struck; and it was a universal panic rout, and delirious stampede
of flight, which never paused (the very garrisons emptying
themselves, and joining in it) till it got across the Donau again,
and drew breath there, not to rally or stand, but to run rather
slower. And had left Wallachia, Bessarabia, Dniester river, Donau
river, swept clear of Turks; all Romanzow's henceforth. To such
astonishment of an invincible Grand Turk, and of his Moslem
Populations, fallen on such a set of Giaours ["ALLAH KERIM, And
cannot we abolish them, then?" Not we THEM, it would appear!],--as
every reader can imagine." Which shall suffice every reader here in
regard to the Turk War, and what concern he has in the extremely
brutish phenomenon.

Tchesme fell out July 7th; Elphinstone has hardly done his tea in
the Dardanelles, when (August 1st) this of Kaghul follows:
both would be fresh news blazing in every head while the Dialogues
between Friedrich and Kaunitz were going on. For they "had many
dialogues," Friedrich says; "and one of the days" (probably
September 6th) was mainly devoted to Politics, to deep private
Colloquy with Kaunitz. Of which, and of the great things that
followed out of it, I will now give, from Friedrich's own hand, the
one entirely credible account I have anywhere met with in writing.

Friedrich's account of Kaunitz himself is altogether life-like:
a solemn, arrogant, mouthing, browbeating kind of man,--embarrassed
at present by the necessity not to browbeat, and by the
consciousness that "King Friedrich is the only man who refuses to
acknowledge my claims to distinction:" [Rulhiere (somewhere) has
heard this, as an utterance of Kaunitz's in some plaintive moment.]
--a Kaunitz whose arrogances, qualities and claims this King is not
here to notice, except as they concern business on hand. He says,
"Kaunitz had a clear intellect, greatly twisted by perversities of
temper (UN SENS DROIT, L'ESPRIT REMPLI DE TRAVERS), especially by a
self-conceit and arrogance which were boundless. He did not talk,
but preach. At the smallest interruption, he would stop short in
indignant surprise: it has happened that, at the Council-Board in
Schonbrunn, when Imperial Majesty herself asked some explanation of
a word or thing not understood by her, Kaunitz made his bow (LUI
TIRA SA REVERENCE), and quitted the room." Good to know the nature
of the beast. Listen to him, then, on those terms, since it is
necessary. The Kaunitz Sermon was of great length, imbedded in
circumlocutions, innuendoes and diplomatic cautions; but the gist
of it we gather to have been (abridged into dialogue form)
essentially as follows:--

KAUNITZ. "Dangerous to the repose of Europe, those Russian
encroachments on the Turk. Never will Imperial Majesty consent that
Russia possess Moldavia or Wallachia; War sooner,--all things
sooner! These views of Russia are infinitely dangerous to
everybody. To your Majesty as well, if I may say so; and no remedy
conceivable against them,--to me none conceivable,--but this only,
That Prussia and Austria join frankly in protest and absolute
prohibition of them."

FRIEDRICH. "I have nothing more at heart than to stand well with
Austria; and always to be her ally, never her enemy. But your
Highness sees how I am situated: bound by express Treaty with
Czarish Majesty; must go with Russia in any War! What can I do?
I can, and will with all industry, labor to conciliate Czarish
Majesty and Imperial; to produce at Petersburg such a Peace with
the Turks as may meet the wishes of Vienna. Let us hope it can be
done. By faithful endeavoring, on my part and on yours, I persuade
myself it can. Meanwhile, steadfastly together, we two! All our
little rubs, custom-house squabbles on the Frontier, and such like,
why not settle them here, and now? [and does so with his Highness.]
That there be nothing but amity, helpfulness and mutual effort
towards an object so momentous to us both, and to all mankind!"

KAUNITZ. "Good so far. And may a not intolerable Turk-Russian Peace
prove possible, without our fighting for it! Meanwhile, Imperial
Majesty [as she has been visibly doing for some time] must continue
massing troops and requisites on the Hungarian Frontier, lest the
contrary happen!"

This was the result arrived at. Of which Friedrich "judged it but
polite to inform the young Kaiser; who appeared to be grateful for
this mark of attention, being much held down by Kaunitz in his
present state of tutelage." [ OEuvres de Frederic, italic> xxvi. 30.]

And by a singular chance, on the very morrow there arrived from the
Divan (dated August 12th) an Express to Friedrich: "Mediate a Peace
for us with Russia; not you alone, as we have often asked, but
Austria AND you!" For the Kaghul Slaughtery has come on us;
Giaour Elphinstone has taken tea in the Dardanelles; and we know
not to what hand to turn!--"The young Kaiser did not hide his joy
at this Overture, as Kaunitz did his, which was perhaps still
greater:" the Kaiser warmly expressed his thanks to Friedrich as
the Author of it; Kaunitz, with a lofty indifference (MORGUE), and
nose in air as over a small matter, "merely signified his approval
of this step which the Turks had taken."

"Never was mediation undertaken with greater pleasure," adds the
King. And both did proceed upon it with all zeal; but only the King
as real "mediator," or MIDDLEman; Kaunitz from the first planting
himself immovably upon the Turk side of things, which is likewise
the Austrian; and playing in secret (as Friedrich probably expected
he would) the strangest tricks with his assumed function.

So that Friedrich had to take the burden of mediating altogether on
himself; and month after month, year after year, it is evident he
prosecutes the same with all the industry and faculty that are in
him,--in intense desire, and in hope often nearly desperate, to
keep his two neighbors' houses, and his own and the whole world
along with them, from taking fire. Apart from their conflicting
interests, the two Empresses have privately a rooted aversion to
one another. What with Russian exorbitancy (a Czarina naturally
uplifted with her Tchesmes and Kaghuls); what with Austrian
cupidity, pride, mulishness, and private trickery of Kaunitz;
the adroit and heartily zealous Friedrich never had such a bit of
diplomacy to do. For many months hence, in spite of his intensest
efforts and cunningest appliances, no way of egress visible:
"The imbroglio MUST catch fire!" At last a way opens, "Ha, at last
a way!"--then, for above a twelvemonth longer, such a guiding of
the purblind quadrupeds and obstinate Austrian mules into said way:
and for years more such an urging of them, in pig-driver fashion,
along the same, till Peace did come!--

And here, without knowing it, we have insensibly got to the topmost
summit of our Polish Business; one small step more, and we shall be
on the brow of the precipitous inclined-plane, down which Poland
and its business go careering thenceforth, down, down,--and will
need but few words more from us. Actual discovery of "a way out"
stands for next Section.

First, however, we will notice, as prefatory, a curious occurrence
in the Country of Zips, contiguous to the Hungarian Frontier.
Zips, a pretty enough District, of no great extent, had from time
immemorial belonged to Hungary; till, above 300 years ago, it was--
by Sigismund SUPER GRAMMATICAM, a man always in want of money (whom
we last saw, in flaming color, investing Friedrich's Ancestor with
Brandenburg instead of payment for a debt of money)--pledged to the
Crown of Poland for a round sum to help in Sigismund's pressing
occasions. Redemption by payment never followed; attempt at
redemption there had never been, by Sigismund or any of his
successors. Nay, one successor, in a Treaty still extant, [Preuss,
iv. 32 (date 1589; pawning had beep 1412).] expressly gave up the
right of redeeming: Pledge forfeited: a Zips belonging to Polish
Crown and Republic by every law.

Well; Imperial Majesty, as we have transiently seen, is assembling
troops on the Hungarian Frontier, for a special purpose.
Poor Poland is, by this time (1770), as we also saw, sunk in
Pestilence,--pigs and dogs devouring the dead bodies: not a loaf to
be had for a hundred ducats, and the rage of Pestilence itself a
mild thing to that of Hunger, not to mention other rages. So that
both Austria and Prussia, in order to keep out Pestilence at least,
if they cannot the other rages, have had to draw CORDONS, or lines
of troops along the Frontiers. "The Prussian cordon," I am
informed, "goes from Crossen, by Frankfurt northward, to the
Weichsel River and border of Warsaw Country:" and "is under the
command of General Belling," our famous Anti-Swede Hussar of former
years. The Austrian cordon looks over upon Zips and other
Starosties, on the Hungarian Border: where, independently of
Pestilence, an alarmed and indignant Empress-Queen has been and is
assembling masses of troops, with what object we know. Looking over
into Zips in these circumstances, indignant Kaunitz and Imperial
Majesty, especially HIS Imperial Majesty, a youth always passionate
for territory, say to themselves, "Zips was ours, and in a sense
is!"--and (precise date refused us, but after Neustadt, and before
Winter has quite come) push troops across into Zips Starosty:
seize the whole Thirteen Townships of Zips, and not only these, but
by degrees tract after tract of the adjacencies: "Must have a
Frontier to our mind in those parts: indefensible otherwise!"
And quietly set up boundary-pillars, with the Austrian double-eagle
stamped on them, and intimation to Zips and neighborhood, That it
is now become Austrian, and shall have no part farther in these
Polish Confederatings, Pestilences, rages of men, and pigs
devouring dead bodies, but shall live quiet under the double-eagle
as others do. Which to Zips, for the moment, might be a blessed
change, welcome or otherwise; but which awoke considerable
amazement in the outer world,--very considerable in King Stanislaus
(to whom, on applying, Kaunitz would give no explanation the least
articulate);--and awoke, in the Russian Court especially, a rather
intense surprise and provocation.


PRINCE HENRI HAS BEEN TO SWEDEN; IS SEEN AT PETERSBURG
IN MASQUERADE (on or about New-year's Day, 1771);
AND DOES GET HOME, WITH RESULTS THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

Prince Henri, as we noticed, was not of this Second King-and-Kaiser
Interview; Henri had gone in the opposite direction,--to Sweden, on
a visit to his Sister Ulrique,--off for West and North, just in the
same days while the King was leaving Potsdam for Silesia and his
other errand in the Southeast parts. Henri got to Drottingholm, his
Sister's country Palace near Stockholm, by the "end of August;" and
was there with Queen Ulrique and Husband during these Neustadt
manoeuvres. A changed Queen Ulrique, since he last saw her
"beautiful as Love," whirling off in the dead of night for those
remote Countries and destinies. [Supra, viii. 309.] She is now
fifty, or on the edge of it, her old man sixty,--old man dies
within few months. They have had many chagrins, especially she, as
the prouder, has had, from their contumacious People,--contumacious
Senators at least (strong always both in POCKET-MONEY French or
Russian, and in tendency to insolence and folly),--who once, I
remember, demanded sight and count of the Crown-Jewels from Queen
Ulrique: "There, VOILA, there are they!" said the proud Queen;
"view them, count them,--lock them up: never more will I wear one
of them!" But she has pretty Sons grown to manhood, one pretty
Daughter, a patient good old Husband; and Time, in Sweden too,
brings its roses; and life is life, in spite of contumacious bribed
Senators and doggeries that do rather abound. Henri stayed with her
six or seven weeks; leaves Sweden, middle of October, 1770,--not by
the straight course homewards: "No, verily, and well knew why!"
shrieks the indignant Polish world on us ever since.

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