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27th Oct.-13th Dec., 1740.

CHAPTER IX.

RESOLUTION FORMED AT REINSBERG IN CONSEQUENCE. THURSDAY, 27th October, two days after the Expresses went for them, Schwerin and Podewils punctually arrived at Reinsberg. They were carried into the interior privacies, "to long conferences with his Majesty that day, and for the next four days; Majesty and they even dining privately together;" grave busiThe ness of state, none guesses how grave, evidently going on. resolution Friedrich laid before them, fruit of these two days since the news from Vienna, was probably the most important ever formed in Prussia, or in Europe during that Century-Resolution to make good our Rights on Silesia by this great opportunity, the best that will ever offer-Resolution which had sprung, find, and got to sudden fixity in the head of the young King himself, and which met with little save opposition from all the other sons of Adam, at the first blush and for long afterward. And, indeed, the making of it good (of it, and of the immense results that hung by it) was the main business of this young King's Life henceforth, and cost him Labors like those of Hercules, and was in the highest degree momentous to existing and not yet existing millions of mankind—to the readers of this History especially!

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It is almost touching to reflect how unexpectedly, like a bolt out of the blue, all this had come upon Friedrich, and how it overset his fine program for the winter at Reinsberg, and for his Life generally. Not the Peaceable magnanimities, but the Warlike, are the thing appointed Friedrich this winter, and mainly henceforth. Those "golden or soft radiances" which we saw in him, admirable to Voltaire and to Friedrich, and to an esurient philanthropic world, it is not those, it is "the steel-bright or stellar kind,” that are to become predominant in Friedrich's existence: grim hail-storms, thunders, and tornado for an existence to him, instead of the opulent genialities and halcyon weather anticipated by himself and others! Indisputably enough, to us if

27th Oct.-13th Dec., 1740. not yet to Friedrich, "Reinsberg and Life to the Muses" are done. On a sudden, from the opposite side of the horizon, see miraculous Opportunity rushing hitherward-swift, terrible, clothed with lightning like a courser of the gods: dare you clutch him by the thunder-mane, and fling yourself upon him, and make for the Empyrean by that course rather? Be immediate about it, then; the time is now, or else never! No fair judge can blame flaming Opportunity in

the young man that he laid hold of the this manner, and obeyed the new omen. To seize such an Opportunity, and perilously mount upon it, was the part of a young magnanimous King, less sensible to the perils, and more to the other considerations, than one older would have been.

Schwerin and Podewils were, no doubt, astonished to learn what the Royal purpose was, and could not want for commonplace objections many and strong, had this been the scene for dwelling on them, or dressing them out at eloquent length. But they knew well this was not the scene for doing more than, with eloquent modesty, hint them; that the Resolution, being already taken, would not alter for commonplace; and that the question now lying for honorable members was How to execute it? It is on this, as I collect, that Schwerin and Podewils, in the King's company, did, with extreme intensity, consult during those four days, and were, most probably, of considerable use to the King, though some of their modifications adopted by him turned out, not as they had predicted, but as he. On all the Military details and outlines, and on all the Diplomacies of this business, here are two Oracles extremely worth consulting by the young King.

To seize Silesia is easy: a Country open on all but the south side; open especially on our side, where a battalion of foot might force it; the three or four fortresses, of which only two, Glogau and Neisse, can be reckoned strong, are provided with nothing as they ought to be; not above 3000 fighting men in the whole Province, and these little expecting fight. Silesia can be seized; but the maintaining of it? We must try to maintain it, thinks Friedrich.

At Reinsberg it is not yet known that Kur-Baiern has protested, but it is well guessed he means to do so, and that France

27th Oct.-13th Dec., 1740.

is at his back in some sort-Kur-Baiern, probably Kur-Sachsen and plenty more, France being secretly at their back. What low condition Austria stands in, all its ready resources run to the lees, is known; and that France, getting lively at present with its Belleisles and adventurous spirits not restrainable by Fleury, is always on the watch to bring Austria lower-capable, in spite of Pragmatic Sanction, to snatch the golden moment, and spring hunter-like on a moribund Austria, were the hunting-dogs once out and in cry. To Friedrich it seems unlikely the Pragmatic

Sanction will be a Law of Nature to mankind in these circumstances. His opinion is, "The old political system has expired with the Kaiser." Here is Europe, burning in one corner of it by Jenkins's Ear, and such a smoulder of combustible material awakening nearer hand: will not Europe, probably, blaze into general War, Pragmatic Sanction going to waste sheepskin, and universal scramble ensuing? In which he who has 100,000 good soldiers, and can handle them, may be an important figure in urging claims, and keeping what he has got hold of!

Friedrich's mind, as to the fact, is fixed; seize Silesia we will; but as to the manner of doing it, Schwerin and Podewils modify him. Their counsel is, "Do not step out in hostile attitude at the very first, saying, 'These Duchies, Liegnitz, Brieg, Wohlau, Jägerndorf, are mine, and I will fight for them;' say only, 'Having, as is well known, interests of various kinds in this Silesia, I venture to take charge of it in the perilous times now come, and will keep it safe for the real owner.' Silesia seized in this fashion," continue they, "negotiate with the Queen of Hungary; offer her help, large help in men and money, against her other ene"She never mies; perhaps she will consent to do us right?" will consent," is Friedrich's opinion. "But it is worth trying," urge the Ministers. Well," answers Friedrich, "be it in that form; that is the soft-spoken, cautious form: any form will do, if the fact be there." That is understood to have been the figure of the deliberation in this conclave at Reinsberg during the four days.1 And now it remains only to fix the Military details, to be ready in a minimum of time, and to keep our preparations

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1 Stenzel (from what sources he does not clearly say, no doubt from sources of some authenticity) gives this as summary of it, iv., 61–65.

27th Oct.-13th Dec., 1740.

and intentions in impenetrable darkness from all men in the interim. Adieu, Messieurs.

And so, on the 1st of November, fifth morning since they came, Schwerin and Podewils, a world of new business silently ahead of them, return to Berlin, intent to begin the same. All the Kings will have to take their resolution on this matter, wisely or else unwisely. King Friedrich's, let it prove the wisest or not, is notably the rapidest-complete, and fairly entering upon action, on November 1st. At London the news of the Kaiser's death had arrived the day before; Britannic Majesty and Ministry, thrown much into the dumps by it, much into the vague, are nothing like so prompt with their resolution on it. Somewhat sorrowfully in the vague. In fact, they will go jumbling hither and thither for about three years to come before making up their minds to a resolution, so intricate is the affair to the English Nation and them-intricate indeed, and even imaginary, definable mainly as a bottomless abyss of nightmare dreams to the English Nation and them! Productive of strong somnambulisms, as my friend has it!

Mystery in Berlin for Seven Weeks, while the Preparations go on; Voltaire visits Friedrich to decipher it, but can not. Podewils and Schwerin gone, King Friedrich, though still very busy in working-hours, returns to his society, and its gayeties and brilliancies, apparently with increased appetite after these four days of abstinence. Still busy in his working-hours, as a King must be; couriers coming and going, hundreds of businesses dispatched each day; and in the evening, what a relish for society-Prätorius is quite astonished at it. Music, dancing, playacting, suppers of the gods, "not done till four in the morning sometimes," these are the accounts Prätorius hears at Berlin. "From all persons who return from Reinsberg," writes he, "the unanimous report is, That the King works, the whole day through, with an assiduity that is unique; and then, in the evening, gives himself to the pleasures of society with a vivacity of mirth and sprightly humor which makes those Evening-Parties charming."2 So it had to last, with frequent short journeys on Friedrich's 2 Excerpt in Preuss, Thronbesteigung, p. 418.

27th Oct.-13th Dec., 1740.

part, and at last with change to Berlin as head-quarters, for about seven weeks to come-till the beginning of December, and the day of action, namely. A notable little Interim in Friedrich's

History and that of Europe.

Friedrich's secret, till almost the very end, remained impenetrable, though, by degrees, his movements excited much guessing in the Gazetteer and Diplomatic world every where. Military matters do seem to be getting brisk in Prussia; arsenals much astir; troops are seen mustering, marching, plainly to a singular degree. Marching toward the Austrian side, toward Silesia, some note. Yes; but also toward Cleve certain detachments of troops are marching-do not men see? And the Intrenchment at Büderich in those parts, that is getting forward withal, though privately there is not the least prospect of using it in these altered circumstances. Friedrich already guesses that if he could get Silesia, so invaluable on the one skirt of him, he will probably have to give up his Berg-Jülich claims on the other; I fancy he is getting ready to do so, should the time come for such alternative. But he labors at Büderich all the same, and "improves the roads in that quarter," which at least may help to keep an inquisitive public at bay. These are seven busy weeks on Friedrich's part and on the world's: constant realities of preparation on the one part, industriously veiled; on the other part, such shadows, guessings, spyings, spectral movements above ground and below; Diplomatic shadows fencing, Gazetteer shadows rumoring; dreams of a world as if near awakening to something great! "All Officers on furlough have been ordered to their posts," writes Bielfeld, in those vague terms of his: "On arriving at Berlin, you notice a great agitation in all departments of the State. The regiments are ordered to prepare their equipages, and to hold themselves in readiness for marching. There are magazines being formed at Frankfurt-onthe-Oder and at Crossen"-handy for Silesia, you would say? "There are considerable trains of Artillery getting ready, and the King has frequent conferences with his Generals." The authentic fact is, "By the middle of November, Troops to the extent of 30,000 and more had got orders to be ready for march3 Bielfeld, i., 165 (Berlin, 30th November, is the date he puts to it).

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