History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 18 | Page 4

ardent than Austria itself.
France, Austria, Russia; to these add Polish Majesty himself; and
latterly the very Swedes, by French bribery at Stockholm: these are the
Partitioning Powers;--and their shares (let us spare one line for their
shares) are as follows.
The Swedes are to have Pommern in whole; Polish-Saxon Majesty gets
Magdeburg, Halle, and opulent slices thereabouts; Austria's share, we
need not say, is that jewel of a Silesia. Czarish Majesty, on the extreme
East, takes Preussen, Konigsberg-Memel Country in whole; adds
Preussen to her as yet too narrow Territories. Wesel-Cleve Country,
from the other or Western extremity, France will take that clipping, and
make much of it. These are quite serious business-engagements,
engrossed on careful parchment, that Spring, 1757, and I suppose not
yet boiled down into glue, but still to be found in dusty corners, with
the tape much faded. The high heads, making preparation on the due
scale, think them not only executable, but indubitable, and almost as
good as done. Push home upon him, as united Posse Comitatus of
Mankind; in a sacred cause of Polish Majesty and Public Justice, how
can one malefactor resist? "AH, MA TRES-CHERE" and "Oh, my
dearest Princess and Cousin," what a chance has turned up!

It is computed that there are arrayed against this one King, under their
respective Kings, Empress-Queens, Swedish Senates, Catins and
Pompadours, populations to the amount of above 100 millions,--in after
stages, I remember to have seen "150 millions" loosely given as the
exaggerated cipher. Of armed soldiers actually in the field against him
(against Hanover and him), in 1757, there are, by strict count, 430,000.
Friedrich's own Dominions at this time contain about Five Millions of
Population; of Revenue somewhat less than Two Millions sterling.
New taxes he cannot legally, and will not, lay on his People. His
SCHATZ (ready-money Treasure, or Hoard yearly accumulating for
such end) is, I doubt not, well filled,-- express amount not mentioned.
Of drilled men he has, this Year, 150,000 for the field; portioned out
thriftily,--as well beseems, against Four Invasions coming on him from
different points. In the field, 150,000 soldiers, probably the best that
ever were; and in garrison, up and down (his Country being, by nature,
the least defensible of all Countries), near 40,000, which he reckons of
inferior quality. So stands the account. [Stenzel, iv. 308, 306, v. 39;
Ranke, iii. 415; Preuss, ii, 389, 43, 124; &c. &c.;-- substantially true, I
doubt not; but little or nothing of it so definite and conclusively distinct
as it ought, in all items, to have been by this time,--had poor Dryasdust
known what he was doing.] These are, arithmetically precise, his
resources,--PLUS only what may lie in his own head and heart, or
funded in the other heads and hearts, especially in those 150,000, which
he and his Fathers have been diligently disciplining, to good perfection,
for four centuries come the time.
France, urged by Pompadour and the enthusiasms, was first in the field.
The French Army, in superb equipment, though privately in poorish
state of discipline, took the road early in March; "March 26th and
27th," it crossed the German Border, Cleve Country and Koln Country;
had been rumored of since January and February last, as terrifically
grand; and here it now actually is, above 100,000 strong,--110,405, as
the Army-Lists, flaming through all the Newspapers, teach mankind.
[ Helden-Geschichte, iv. 391; iii. 1073.] Bent
mainly upon Prussia, it would seem; such the will of Pompadour.
Mainly upon Prussia; Marechal d'Estrees, crossing at Koln, made offers
even to his Britannic Majesty to be forgiven in comparison; "Yield us a
road through your Hanover, merely a road to those

Halberstadt-Magdeburg parts, your Hanover shall have neutrality!"
"Neutrality to Hanover?" sighed Britannic Majesty: "Alas, am not I
pledged by Treaty? And, alas, withal, how is it possible, with that
America hanging over us?" and stood true. Nor is this all, on the part of
magnanimous France: there is a Soubise getting under way withal,
Soubise and 30,000, who will reinforce the Reich's Armament, were it
on foot, and be heard of by and by! So high runs French enthusiasm at
present. A new sting of provocation to Most Christian Majesty, it
seems, has been Friedrich's conduct in that Damiens matter (miserable
attempt, by a poor mad creature, to assassinate; or at least draw blood
upon the Most Christian Majesty ["Evening of 5th January, 1757"
(exuberantly plentiful details of it, and of the horrible Law- procedures
which followed on it: In Adelung, viii. 197-220; Barbier, &c. &c.).]);
about which Friedrich, busy and oblivious, had never, in common
politeness, been at the pains to condole, compliment, or take any notice
whatever. And will now take the consequences, as due!--
The Wesel-Cleve Countries these French find abandoned: Friedrich's
garrisons have had