History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 13 | Page 9

in the way of negotiation has escaped men's memory, as it could
well afford to do.

Of Hyndford's appurtenances for lodging we already had a glimpse,
through Busching once;--pointing towards solid dinner-comforts rather
than arras hangings; and justifying the English genius in that respect.
The weight of the negotiations fell on Hyndford; it is between him and
French Valori that the matter lies, Montijos and the others being mere
satellites on their respective sides. Much battered upon, this Hyndford,
by refractory Hanoverians pitting George as Elector against the same
George as King, and egging these two identities to woful battle with
each other,-- "Lay me at his Majesty's feet" full length, and let his
Majesty say which is which, then! A heavy, eating, haggling,
unpleasant kind of mortal, this Hyndford; bites and grunts privately, in
a stupid ferocious manner, against this young King: "One of the worst
of men; who will not take up the Cause of Liberty at all, and is not
made in the image of Hyndford at all." They are dreadfully stiff reading,
those Despatches of Hyndford: but they have particles of current news
in them; interesting glimpses of that same young King;--likewise of
Hyndford, laid at his Majesty's feet, and begging for self and brothers
any good benefice that may fall vacant. We can discern, too, a certain
rough tenacity and horse- dealer finesse in the man; a broad-based,
shrewdly practical Scotch Gentleman, wide awake; and can conjecture
that the diplomatic function, in that element, might have been in worse
hands. He is often laid metaphorically at the King's feet, King of
England's; and haunts personally the King of Prussia's elbow at all
times, watching every glance of him, like a British house-dog, that will
not be taken in with suspicious travellers, if he can help it; and casting
perpetual horoscopes in his dull mind.
Of Friedrich and his demeanor in this strange scene, centre of a World
all drawing sword, and jumbling in huge Diplomatic and other delirium
about his ears, the reader will desire to see a direct glimpse or two. As
to the sad general Imbroglio of Diplomacies which then weltered
everywhere, readers can understand that, it has, at this day, fallen
considerably obscure (as it deserved to do); and that even Friedrich's
share of it is indistinct in parts. The game, wide as Europe, and one of
the most intricate ever played by Diplomatic human creatures, was kept
studiously dark while it went on; and it has not since been a pleasant
object of study. Many of the Documents are still unpublished,

inaccessible; so that the various moves in the game, especially what the
exact dates and sequence of them were (upon which all would turn), are
not completely ascertainable,--nor in truth are they much worth hunting
after, through such an element. One thing we could wish to have out of
it, the one thing of sane that was in it: the demeanor and physiognomy
of Friedrich as there manifested; Friedrich alone, or pretty much alone
of all these Diplomatic Conjurers, having a solid veritable object in
hand. The rest--the spiders are very welcome to it: who of mortals
would read it, were it made never so lucid to him? Such traits of
Friedrich as can be sifted out into the conceivable and indubitable state,
the reader shall have; the extinct Bedlam, that begirdled Friedrich far
and wide, need not be resuscitated except for that object. Of Friedrich's
fairness, or of Friedrich's "trickiness, machiavelism and attorneyism,"
readers will form their own notion, as they proceed. On one point they
will not be doubtful, That here is such a sharpness of steady eyesight
(like the lynx's, like the eagle's), and, privately such a courage and
fixity of resolution, as are highly uncommon.
April 26th, 1741, in the same days while Belleisle arrived in the Camp
at Mollwitz, and witnessed that fine opening of the cannonade upon
Brieg, Excellency Hyndford got to Berlin; and on notifying the event,
was invited by the King to come along to Breslau, and begin business.
England has been profuse enough in offering her "good offices with
Austria" towards making a bargain for his Prussian Majesty; but is busy
also, at the Hague, concerting with the Dutch "some strong joint
resolution,"--resolution, Openly to advise Friedrich to withdraw his
troops from Silesia, by way of starting fair towards a bargain. A very
strong resolution, they and the Gazetteers think it; and ask themselves,
Is it not likely to have some effect? Their High Mightinesses have been
screwing their courage, and under English urgency, have decided (April
24th), [ Helden-Geschichte, i. 964; the ADVICE
itself, a very mild-spoken Piece, but of riskish nature think the Dutch,
is given, ib. 965, 966.] "Yes, we will jointly so advise!" and Friedrich
has got