History of Prussia under Frederick the Great. 1740-1745 (-1756)

Preface

. The two volumes accompanying this preface are de signed to be the second and third in a series, which began some time since with the work entitled " History of Prus sia to the Accession of Frederic the Great." By them selves they also form the first half of what it is hoped will be a complete account, descriptive and historical, of the reign of the third king of Prussia. A fourth volume, to be issued in the near future, will cover the period of the Seven Years' War, including the measures which were taken to heal the wounds left by that bloody struggle. The fifth will bring the story down to the death of Fred eric. Such being the plan of the work, it will be neces sary to refer to the earlier volume all readers who may desire a fuller knowledge of the antecedents of the great king, and of the inherited forces and problems of his reign, than can be given in the limits of a mere introduc tion.

But I have not the less aimed to make the nature and objects of Frederic's preliminary measures clear by a brief survey of the state of Prussia at the time of his ac cession. After this account of their scope and connections the volumes might now be left to the general reader without any further explanation. But the critics and specialists would not be satisfied. The great name of Carlyle is as sociated so commandingly with the reign of Frederic the Great that any other writer, who ventures to treat the same subject, is bound to make good in advance his claim VI

PREFACE.

. to a hearing. I am certainly not wanting in respect for those who suspect, or even resent, any attempt by an in ferior pen to write upon a theme which has been touched by the hand of the master. But my own faith was shaken when during a residence of several years in Berlin I discovered how inadequate was Carlyle's account, and prob ably also his knowledge, of the working system of the Prussian government in the last century, — a system which it is absolutely necessary to understand if one de sires to know as well why Frederic was able to accomplish what he did, as why his successors failed to accomplish what they undertook. A candid but indiscreet friend of Mr. Carlyle completed the disenchantment. Mr. Froude has shown that Carlyle was not called to the subject of Frederic by the imperative voice of duty, bidding him to erect a monument over one of the world's benefactors, but rather that, casting about for a topic on which to employ his professional pen, he fixed upon the third king of Prus sia as the most available one which offered itself.

This revelation destroys much of the romance which has hitherto connected Frederic with Carlyle's general scheme of social philosophy, and compels his work to submit to the tests imposed on all ordinary, uninspired productions. Is it, with all its peculiar merits as a work of art, a true and adequate picture of the Prussia of Frederic the Sec ond? The answer to this question I must leave to the judgment of readers who do me the honor to read my own ac count of the same reign. But I may properly explain wherein the present work differs in plan and treatment from that of Carlyle's, and what sources I have been able to use that were either not open to him, or being open were not consulted. In regard to the first distinction it is enough to state

PREFACE.

. VII that I do not come forward as a biographer of Frederic. My task is rather to explain the part played by Frederic and his reign in the process by which Prussia became what she is to-day. That part was possibly determined more by the personal qualities of the king himself than by any other one influence, so that any history of his reign must be largely biographical in treatment. But there is still a distinction between the life of Frederic and the history of Prussia during his life. I have tried to give due atten tion to those personal details which throw light upon the character of the king, and lend interest to the narrative ; but it is essentially the life of Prussia as a state, the de velopment of polity, the growth of institutions, the prog ress of society, which I have made it my object to de scribe.

In this work I have been aided by a vast literature which has grown up since the time of Carlyle. The au thor of the " History of Friedrich II." studied most of the available printed material with great care ; and, as one of the few persons west of the Straits of Dover who have plowed their way through that dreary field, I can testify that Dryasdust is a real personage, fully deserving all the reproaches that have been poured upon his phenomenal dullness, yet deserving also perhaps more praise than he has usually received for the fidelity with which, according to his light, he arranged the records of his time for the use of future historians. But it does not appear that Mr. Carlyle, though he made two visits to Germany during the progress of his labors, undertook any researches in the Prussian archives.

The principal works in which he found original, official material were the sumptuous edi tion of the " Œuvres de Fre"d£ric le Grand," published under the auspices of the Berlin Academy of Sciences ; Dr. Preuss' " Friedrich der Grosse; " and the first editions

PREFACE.

. of Ranke's masterly contributions to Prussian history. From Austrian and Russian sources he had little or noth ing ; from French, scarcely anything that laid claim to official authority except the careless and inadequate " His toire de la diplomatic francaise " of Flassan. The Eng lish material had been more liberally used, especially in the various compilations by archdeacon Coxe, and these Carlyle himself supplemented by studies among the papers of the British Museum and the Record Office. The subsequent publications which throw light upon the .reign of Frederic represent nearly every national standpoint, and almost every variety of literature. Among the general histories at least two masterpieces must be named. The elaborate " Geschichte Maria Theresias," by Dr. von Arneth, director of the Austrian archives, not only de rives a special value from the facilities which the author's official position gave him, and the faithful use which he made of them, but it is also written in a firm, clear, lumi nous style, shows great independence of judgment, and rarely sins against good taste.

His views are of course sharply attacked by Prussian critics ; and even Adolph Beer, who has examined the same material, dissents from some of his conclusions. But the work is by far the most complete and authentic account of Austria's great queen, and is in my judgment one of the best histories in the German language. The Prussian view of the relations between the courts of Berlin and Vienna from 1740 to 1756 is presented with great ability in the fifth part of Droysen's " Geschichte der preussischen Politik." The lamented death of the author two years ago left his work unfinished in the very portion which most needed his un rivalled skill in solving obscure diplomatic problems, and tracing the lines of complex negotiations through masses of bewildering correspondence ; yet nobody will read

PREFACE.

. IX Droysen for entertainment, or for judicial opinions. The style is harsh, abrupt, forbidding. The book is that of an advocate. But the laborious researches that he made, and the firm grasp of his material that he everywhere shows, give his work a value which is only lessened, not destroyed, by its violent and sometimes cynical partisan ship. These two comprehensive treatises are supplemented by a number of historical monographs, which describe special periods, events, or persons with more detail. The late professor Arnold Schaefer's " Geschichte des sieben jahrigen Kriegs " is now the standard history of the third war between Frederic and Maria Theresa ; and, notwith standing slight errors which the critics have discovered, it may be followed with reasonable confidence. Dr. G. Griinhagen's " Geschichte des ersten schlesischen Krie ges " deserves even warmer recognition.

The author had become favorably known by several studies from the archives of Breslau before he published this learned, able, and candid work ; and it is to be hoped that he will feel encouraged to apply his admirable method to the history of the later struggles for his native province. The list contains many other books of more or less importance, only a few of which can be mentioned, and those by little except the name. Count Vitzthum's " Maurice de Saxe et Marie Josephe, dauphine de France," throws incident ally some new light upon Frederic's Moravian campaign in 1742; Briickner's "Katharina die Zweite " is one of the few popular histories which may be consulted as an authority by the special inquirer; "Die erste Theilung Polens" by A. Beer is the most elaborate account, mainly from the Prussian standpoint, of a transaction which is not yet free from obscurity, and with it may be compared Ssolojof's " Geschichte des Falles von Polen " in the Ger man translation of Spbrer for the Russian version, and X

PREFACE.

. Ferrand's " Les trois demembrements de la Pologne ; " Saint-Rend Taillandier's "Maurice de Saxe," though laying little or no claim to originality, is a good critical sketch of the only general who during Frederic's time could be called his peer ; in Desnoiresterres' " Voltaire et Frederic II.," Keyserling's " Moses Mendelssohn," and Prohle's " Friedrich der Grosse und die deutsche Litera tur " may be found interesting facts and discussions bear ing on one of the many sides of Frederic's activity ; and the " Mdmoires " of the duke de Luynes are the contribution of an unusually well informed observer to the history of the court of Versailles during many years of the reign of Louis the Fifteenth. A second and still larger class of works consists of special studies, diplomatic and political, from the different archives of Europe.

Isaacsohn's " Geschichte des preus sischen Beamtenthums," though ill-arranged, unreadable, and abruptly terminated by the author's death after it had only reached the early part of Frederic's reign, is an in valuable guide to the early history of the Prussian civil service ; and Bornhak's " Geschichte des preussischen Ver waltungsrechts " discusses the same subject from a slightly different standpoint, yet with equally useful results. In his " Geheimnisse des siichsischen Cabinets," count Vitz thum sets forth the Saxon view of the relations between Berlin and Dresden down to the close of the Seven Years' War. The duke de Broglie has published two sets of studies from the French archives, under the titles " Frederic II. et Marie Therese," and " Frdddric II. et Louis XV. ; " these are piquant, readable, and full of in teresting revelations.

From the Hanoverian archives, now in the possession of Prussia, Dr. Borkowsky has com piled " Die englische Friedensvermittlung in Jahre 1745." To the same class of works belong also Arneth's " Joseph

PREFACE.

. XI II. und Katharina von Russland ; " several monographs by A. Beer, such as " Holland und der oesterreichische Erb folgekrieg," " Aufzeichnungen des Grafen Bentinck," and " Friedrich II. und von Zwieten ; " Schlozer's " Friedrich II. und Katharina IL," and many others. There remains finally a third class of authorities, and the most important of all, the recent and numerous publications from the various archives of Europe. The place of honor here properly belongs to the " Politische Corre sponded Friedrichs des Grossen." This gi'eat enterprise, begun several years ago under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences, and the general supervision of professors Droysen, Duncker, and von Sybel, has now proceeded as far as the fourteenth volume, which extends to the year 1757. The mechanical execution of the work leaves nothing to desire.

The successive editors, Dr. Reinhold Koser and Dr. Albert Naudd, both pupils of Droysen, and among the most promising of the younger historical scholars of Prussia, have done their work with in dustry, discrimination, and impartiality. Though the term " political " is narrowed down, in accordance with Droysen's example, to mean practically diplomatic, the editors have not confined themselves in their search for material to letters actually written or dictated by Frederic, but have incorporated everything which, proceeding di rectly or indirectly from him, casts light upon his foreign policy. To the authors and conductors of this generous scheme historical students owe a debt which cannot be too gratefully acknowledged. The liberality with which the Prussian archives are administered under their present director, professor von Sybel, has also led to two other enterprises, scarcely less welcome. The first of these is the series called " Publikationen aus den koniglich-preussischen Staatsarchiven," in which over a score of volumes

PREFACE.

. have already appeared. Several of these concern the policy or the personality, or both, of Frederic. Of the three which bear the title " Preussens Kbnige in ihrer Thiitigkeit fiir die Landescultur," the second is devoted to his reign, and gives, in the form of edicts, decrees, ordinances, and laws, together with an introductory essay by R. Stadelmann, a complete view of his efforts to im prove the national agriculture. Five volumes, compiled and edited in the same excellent manner by Max Leh mann, are on the subject " Preussen und die Katholische Kirche seit 1640. Still another volume contains the con versations of Frederic with Henry de Catt, the reader and amanuensis who accompanied him through several campaigns, the recipient of his literary confidence, the faithful chronicler of his frank, free, and unreserved opinions on a great variety of topics.

As the series pro ceeds it will doubtless open up many other sides of the king's busy life. The third set of publications is exclu sively friderician, its title being " Preussische Staats schriften aus der Regierungszeit Friedrichs des Grossen." Only two numbers have as yet been published, and these reach only to the year 1756. The documents, too, are, with few exceptions, reprints of controversial material, which had already seen the light. But many of them are now first published from the authentic official text, and the notes of the editor, Dr. Koser, make the volumes an extremely valuable repertory for one side of the history of the period. Successive issues will, it is presumed, con tinue the series throughout the reign of Frederic. These three works are the ones on which, so far as Prussian sources are concerned, and in addition to earlier publi cations, I have chiefly depended for my knowledge of Frederic himself, his foreign policy, and his system of government. I have tried to describe his reign as it is

PREFACE.

. XIII drawn by himself in his own writings and his own official acts. In the mean time, at opposite corners of Europe, the archives have been opening their secrets to the historian. In France have appeared M. Boutaric's two volumes, " Correspondance secrete de Louis XV.," and the duke de Broglie's " Le secret du roi," two works which describe, with an abundance of documentary material, the private diplomacy of madame de Pompadour's lover, the original ally and final enemy of Frederic. A cordial acknowledg ment must also be made to the series known as " Instruc tions donnees aux ambassadeurs et ministres de France." Two volumes have already appeared, one devoted to Sweden and one to Austria, that is to say, to the successive ministers of France at these courts. Their value is, of course, lessened by the fact that the ostensible instruc tions issued to French representatives abroad did not always agree with their secret orders, and partook more of the nature of academic essays than of practical rules of conduct for all emergencies.

But, with this limitation, the volumes supply official information of an undoubted value. While historical specialists have thus been mining in the cabinet records of their own countries, the Russian Imperial Historical Society, with a zeal which deserves the warmest recognition, has taken the archives of nearly all Europe into its service. The " Sbornik," which is the title of the volumes issued by it from time to time, is the most comprehensive of all sources for the diplomatic his tory of the eighteenth century. In the main, the series consists of collections of the correspondence between the principal European governments and their agents at St. Petersburg, arranged by periods and countries, and accom panied by a Russian translation. The editorial parts are also in Russian, which renders them useless, of course, to

PREFACE.

. the larger number of inquirers. But the general scope and conduct of the enterprise are such as the scholars of Western Europe might well make their model. The use of both the older and the newer material for the history of Frederic's reign has been made easy for me by the kindly assistance of many persons. First of all I must name Andrew D. White, one of the founders and for many years the president of Cornell University. When, on the completion of my first volume of Prussian history, he learned that the continuation of the work might be made difficult, or at least be delayed, by the scarcity of material in America, he generously offered me what was in effect an unlimited authority to order in his name any books that might be necessary ; so that I was enabled to ob tain a large and indispensable addition to the historical works already present in Mr. White's own noble library, and in that of the university.

It is proper that I should take this opportunity publicly to express my profound thanks for the substantial support which he thus gave to my labors. The various public libraries to which I have had occasion to apply for books have met my requests with uni form courtesy and promptness. At Harvard College Mr. Justin Winsor gave me free access to the books presented by Mr. Carlyle, and the loan of others from the large and rapidly growing collections under his efficient charge. The director of the Boston Public Library, Mellen Cham berlain, esq., secured me in the same way special facilities for consulting the books which private and corporate generosity have put upon the crowded shelves of that noble institution. From the library of the State Depart ment at Washington I obtained the loan of what, so far as I know, is the only copy in America of the Russian " Sbornik : " the admirable management of Mr. Theodore

PREFACE.

. XV F. Dwight keeps this library easily the first in the country for the student of diplomatic history. The Cincinnati Pub lic Library readily sent books on my application, and my thanks for the favor are due to the librarian. At the As tor Library in New York I was enabled to consult the Hardwicke Papers, recently purchased in England by a wise outlay of considerable money. If I found little new material in a collection which had already been used by archdeacon Coxe and others, I was at least enabled to verify the statements made by them, to convince my self that the resources of these MSS. have been by no means exhausted, and that the example set in their pur chase might well be followed by other American libraries. The kind permission of Mr. Francis Parkman gave me an opportunity to examine the voluminous material col lected by him in the archives of Paris and London, and now deposited with the Massachusetts Historical Society.

The fruitful use which the owner himself has made of this material renders it forever unlikely that another writer will undertake to cultivate the same field ; but the papers, which with rare unselfishness he has thus thrown open to the public, will always help special students to find light upon many obscure points in the colonial history of North America, and its relations to the general history of Europe. To all the gentlemen who have thus aided me in their public or private capacity, and to many others, who, in one way or another, have rendered willing and useful service, my grateful acknowledgments are made. In the spelling of proper names I have tried to avoid the appearance of pedantry which would follow a rigid ad herence to any one system, and the anarchy which would result from the neglect of all systems. Where there are established English forms for geographical terms I have usually employed them; in other cases I have used some-

PREFACE.

. XVI times the local spelling, and sometimes the spelling of that language which offers the most intelligible words. Thus I write Regensburg and not Ratisbonne or Ratisbon, but I also write Munich and not Miinchen. The same rule, if rule it may be called, has been applied to the names of persons. Where there is a conflict of usage, as between Seckendorf and Seckendorff, or between Bestuschew, Bestuscheff, and Bestuschef, I have generally chosen the shorter and simpler form. The references to authorities will, it is hoped, present little difficulty. Such letters as are contained in published collections I have usually cited by day, month, and year, not by volume and page, for the latter method would in volve much useless repetition, and add little in point of clearness. Thus the letters of Frederic referred to in the notes will be found, if no other place is indicated, either in the academy edition of his works, or in the " Politische Correspondenz."

Voltaire's correspondence is also con tained in every complete edition of his writings ; I have used that of 1820-1822, in sixty-six volumes. H. T. Ithaca, N. Y., October, 1887. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. The King And The Kingdom

The rise of Prussia ....... 1 Frederic William the First 3 Accession of Frederic the Second 4 Enthusiasm of the people ....... 5 Leopold of Dessau ....... .7 Frederic's views of government .... .8 He addresses the ministers ...... 9 First measures ........ 10 The Prussian system ......... 12 Bureaucratic royalty ........ 14 August Frederic von Boden ....... 15 Henry von Podewils ........ 16 Cabinet secretaries ......... 17 The royal family ......... 17 Frederic's literary circle ........ 18 Homage in Preussen ........ 19 At Berlin 20 Frederic in Strasburg ........ 21 Letters and science ......... 22 Maupertuis .......... 23 Frederic and Voltaire ......... 24 Affair of Heristal 25

Chapter II. The New Foreign Policy

Spirit of European politics ........ 29 Cardinal Fleury ......... 31 Sir Robert Walpole CONTENTS. XVIII The Austrian monarchy 32 Other states .......... 33 The Empire 34 Jiilich-Berg question ......... 35 Taken up by Frederic ........ 36 England and the Bourbons ........ 38 Frederic's negotiations ........ 39 France and the Empire ........ 40 Proposed treaty with Russia ....... 41 The pragmatic sanction ........ 42 Resources of Prussia ........ 43 Death of the emperor ........ 44 Accession of Maria Theresa 45 Bavaria disputes her title ........ 46 Frederic demands Silesia ....... 47 And resolves to seize it ........ 48 But first dissimulates ........ 49 Attitude of France ......... 50 Frederic and Podewils ........ 51 Mystification of Europe ........ 53 Voltaire in Berlin ......... 54 Frederic's purpose suspected ....... 55 The foreign envoys 56 Field-marshal Schwerin ........ 57 The Old Dessauer in opposition ...... 58 Address to the generals ........ 59 Frederic joins the army 60

Chapter III. The First Shesian War

The province of Silesia ........ 61 Its liberties •••....... 63 It Protestant population 64 The Prussian invasion 65 Negotiations at Vienna ...... ,67 Firmness of Maria Theresa ..... 68 Prussian manifestoes ....... ,70 The case examined ....... 71 Attitude of Russia and France .... ,73 Belleisle i>\ Frederic and Fleury ....... 75 Position of England CONTENTS. XIX Frederic in Breslau 77 Close of the campaign 78 More diplomacy 79 Administration of Silesia 80 Prussian methods . 81 Schemes of Frederic's enemies ...... 82 Policy of England 84 Second Prussian army ........ 86 Austrian preparations ........ 86 Marshal Neipperg ......... 87 Frederic's narrow escape ........ 88 Prince Leopold ......... 89 Capture of Glogau 89 Affairs at St. Petersburg 90 The situation in Silesia ........ 92 Reappearance of the Austrians 94 The Prussians in pursuit ........ 95 Preparations for action ........ 96 Battle of Mollwitz 97 The losses 99 Adventures of Frederic 100 CHAPTER TV.

THE DIPLOMATIC INTERLUDE. Belleisle's mission 102 The electors of the Empire ....... 103 Belleisle visits Frederic 104 LordHyndford 105 Alliance of France and Prussia ...... 107 Letters of congratulation ....... 108 Anglo-Dutch protest 109 Court of Saxony ......... 110 Franco-Bavarian alliance . . . . . . . .111 Invasion of Austria ........ 112 Occupation of Breslau . . . . . . . .113 Sir Thomas Robinson ........ 113 His missions to Frederic ........ 115 Failure of the English mediation 116 Maria Theresa and the Hungarians 117 Her difficulties increase **» Neutrality of Hanover . . . . ■ • ■ • • "0 Belleisle gains Saxony CONTENTS. XX Secret overtures by Frederic 122 Protocol of Klein-Schnellendorf 123 The Austrians evacuate Silesia ....... 124 Frederic's conduct examined ....... 125 Occupation of Glatz • 126 Alliance with Saxony and Bavaria ..... 127 Civil reorganization in Silesia ....... 128 Campaign on the Danube ....... 130 Fall of Prague 131 Revolution in Russia ........ 132 The empress Elizabeth 133 Bestuschef 134 Inconsistencies of Frederic ....... 135 Weakness of Fleury ........ 136 The Prussians in Glatz ........ 137 Motives of Frederic ........ 138 Negotiations at Dresden 139 Khevenhuller's campaign 140 Election of Charles Albert as emperor ..... 141

Chapter V

Frederic's second campaign. The military outlook 142 Movements of Frederic ........ 143 Negotiations at Olmiitz 144 Occupation of Iglau ........ 145 Progress of the campaign ........ 146 Spirit of the Saxons ........ 147 Investment of Briinn ......... 149 Fall of Walpole 150 Lord Carteret 151 Defection of Sardinia ........ 152 Frederic's perplexities ........ 153 The Saxons dismissed 154 Retreat from Moravia ........ 155 Prince Charles in pursuit 157 Recriminations .......... 158 Fall of Munich 160 Courage of Maria Theresa „ 161 Frederic's ultimatum 162 His anxiety for peace , 164 The queen's proposals CONTENTS. XXI Rupture of the negotiations 167 Explanations to France 168 The Prussians reenforced . 170 Movements of prince Charles ....... 171 Of the Prussians 172 The Austrian advance ........ 173 Battle of Chotusitz 174 Retreat of the Austrians 176 Negotiations resumed ......... 177 Belleisle in Frederic's camp ....... 178 Retreat of Broglie 179 New propositions of the queen 180 Instructions to Podewils ........ 181 Valori's appeal ......... 182 Preliminaries of Breslau ........ 183 Ratified by the queen . . . . . . . . 184 The debts of Silesia 185 Evacuation of Bohemia 186

Chapter VI. The Peace Of Breslau

The definitive treaty 187 Frederic to his allies ........ 188 Reply of Fleury 189 Vindication of France ........ 190 Why Frederic made peace 191 His future programme ........ 193 Administration of Silesia 195 Its revenues .......... 197 The pragmatic war ......... 199 Fleury's peace overtures ........ 200 The military situation 201 Army of Maillebois 202 Fails to relieve Prague 203 Belleisle's retreat 204 Maria Theresa in Prague 205 The pragmatic army .....••• 206 Efforts for peace "" ' The emperor's demands 2"° Death of Fleury 210 The secret of the king 2n Activity of Carteret CONTENTS. XXII Frederic's anxiety 213 The English in Germany 214 See of Mayence 215 Retreat of Broglie ......... 216 Battle of Dettingen 218 Its consequences ......... 219 Project of Hanau 220 Treaty of Worms 221

Chapter VII. The Union Of Frankfort

Preparations of Frederic 223 Case of Marquis Botta 224 The future Catherine II 225 Better relations with Russia ....... 226 Troubles of Voltaire 227 His mission to Berlin ........ 228 His reception . ......... 229 His diplomacy ......... 230 An annotated memorial ........ 231 More efforts for the emperor ....... 233 Treaty of Worms ......... 234 Austria and Saxony ........ 235 Rothenburg's mission ......... 236 His negotiations ......... 237 Declarations of war ......... 238 New energy of the French 239 Life at Berlin 241 East Friesland 243 Union of Frankfort ......... 245 Frederic's gratitude ........ 246 111 success at St. Petersburg 247 Prince Charles crosses the Rhine 249 And invades Alsace ......... 250 Illness of Louis XV 251 Feeling at Vienna ......... 252 Manifesto of Prussia 253 Indignation in England ........ 255 France and Prussia ......... 256 Schmettau sent to Metz 258 More fictions CONTENTS. XXIII

Chapter VIII. The Second Sllesian War

March of the Prussians 260 Prince Charles recrosses the Rhine ..... 261 Fall of Prague 261 Early difficulties of Frederic 262 Plan of campaign ......... 263 The Saxons in the field 264 Affairs of the allies 265 Tactics of Traun ......... 266 Retreat of the Prussians 267 The campaign abandoned ....... 268 Costs of the expedition ........ 269 Capture of Belleisle ........ 272 Dreams of peace 273 The queen's manifesto ........ 274 Frederic appeals to Russia 275 And to England ......... 276 Position of Saxony ......... 277 Fall of Carteret 278 Treaty of Warsaw 279 Marquis d'Argenson ........ 280 The Austrians in Silesia ........ 282 Expelled by the Old Dessauer 283 Progress of the Austrian arms ....... 284 Scheme of pacification ........ 286 Death of the emperor 287 Its consequences ......... 288 Plans of France 289 Frederic's hesitation ........ 290 Repulse at London ......... 292 Complications thicken ........ 293 Military agreement with France ....... 294 Continued embarrassments ....... 294 Defection of Bavaria ......... 295 Proposed partition of Prussia ....... 296 No help from St. Petersburg ....... 297 English mediation ......... 298 Inflexibility of Maria Theresa 299 Frederic prepares for the worst ...... 300 Battle of Fontenoy CONTENTS.

XXIV 303 Evacuation of Upper Silesia Advance of prince Charles " Preparations of Frederic • Battle of Hohenfriedberg Retreat of the Austrians The armies in Bohemia

Chapter I. The King And The Kingdom

At the death of Frederic William the First, in 1740, the kingdom of Prussia held nearly the fore- The kingdom most place among European states of the second o£ PruBSla rank. It was, indeed, inferior to Holland in extent and variety of resources. It wanted the associations of past grandeur, the influence of a surviving magnificence, the prestige of vast colonial possessions, which still made the name of Spain imposing and formidable. The military annals of Sweden were more brilliant ; the social fabric of Saxony was older and finer ; and even Hanover was raised nearly to the grade of a rival by the connection with England. And in that public estimation which often plays a decisive part in fixing the relative rank of states Prussia was still little more than one of several principalities, which competed for influence and authority in the councils of the German Empire.