history of friedrich ii of prussia v 16-第2章
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FRIEDRICH DECLINES THE CAREER OF CONQUERING HERO； GOES INTO LAW…REFORM； AND GETS READY A COTTAGE RESIDENCE FOR HIMSELF。
Friedrich's Journey to Pyrmont is the first thing recorded of him by the Newspapers。 Gone to take the waters； as he did after his former War。 Here is what I had noted of that small Occurrence； and of one or two others contiguous in date； which prove to be of significance in Friedrich's History。
〃MAY 12…17th； 1746；〃 say the old Books； 〃his Majesty sets out for Pyrmont； taking Brunswick by the way； arrives at Pyrmont May 17th； stays till June 8th；〃 three weeks good。 〃Is busy corresponding with the King of France about a General Peace； but； owing to the embitterment of both parties； it was not possible at this time。〃 Taking the waters at least； and amusing himself。 From Brunswick； in passing； he had brought with him his Brother…in…law the reigning Duke； Rothenburg was there； and Brother Henri； D'Arget expressly； Flute…player Quanz withal； and various musical people： 〃in all； a train of above sixty persons。〃 I notice also that Prince Wilhelm of Hessen was in Pyrmont at the time。 With whom； one fancies； what speculations there might be： About the late and present War… passages； about the poor Peace Prospects； your Hessian 〃Siege〃 so called 〃of Blair in Athol〃 （CULLODEN now comfortably done）； and other cognate topics。 That is the Pyrmont Journey。
It is no surprise to us to hear； in these months； of new and continual attention to Army matters； to Husbandry matters； and to making good； on all sides； the ruins left by War。 Of rebuilding （at the royal expense） 〃the town of Schmiedeberg； which had been burnt；〃 of rebuilding； and repairing from their damage； all Silesian villages and dwellings； and still more satisfactory； How； 〃in May； 1746； there was； in every Circle of the Country； by exact liquidation of Accounts ＇so rapidly got done＇； exact payment made to the individuals concerned； 1。 of all the hay； straw and corn that had been delivered to his Majesty's Armies； 2。 of all the horses that had perished in the King's work； 3。 of all the horses stolen by the Enemy； and of all the money…contributions exacted by the Enemy： payment in ready cash； and according to the rules of justice （BAAR UND BILLIGMASSIG）； by his Majesty。〃 ＇Seyfarth； ii。 22； 23。＇
It was from Pyrmont； May； 1746；or more definitely； it was 〃at Potsdam early in the morning； 15th September；〃 following；that Friedrich launched； or shot forth from its moorings； after much previous attempting and preparing； a very great Enterprise； which he has never lost sight of since the day he began reigning； nor will till his reign and life end： the actual Reform of Law in Prussia。 〃May 12th； 1746；〃 Friedrich； on the road to Pyrmont； answers his Chief Law…Minister Cocceji's REPORT OF PRACTICAL PLAN on this matter： 〃Yes； looks very hopeful！〃and took it with him to consider at Pyrmont； during his leisure。 Much considering of it； then and afterwards； there was。 And finally； September 15th； early in the morning； Cocceji had an Interview with Friedrich； and the decisive fiat was given： 〃Yes； start on it； in God's name！ Pommern； which they call the PROVINCIA LITIGIOSA； try it there first！〃 ＇Ranke； ii。 392。＇ And Cocceji； a vigorous old man of sixty… seven； one of the most learned of Lawyers； and a very Hercules in cleaning Law…Stables； has； on Friedrich's urgencies；which have been repeated on every breathing…time of Peace there has been； and even sometimes in the middle of War （last January； 1745； for example； and again； express Order； January； 1746； a fortnight after Peace was signed）；actually got himself girt for this salutary work。 〃Wash me out that horror of accumulation； let us see the old Pavements of the place again。 Every Lawsuit to be finished within the Year！〃
Cocceji； who had been meditating such matters for a great while； ＇〃1st March； 1738；〃 Friedrich Wilhelm's 〃Edict〃 on Law Reform： Cocceji ready； at that time；but his then Majesty forbore。＇ and was himself eager to proceed； in spite of considerable wigged oppositions and secret reluctances that there were； did now； on that fiat of September 15th； get his Select Commission of Six riddled together and adjoined to him；the likeliest Six that Prussia； in her different Provinces； could yield；and got the STANDE of Pommern； after due committeeing and deliberating； to consent and promise help。 December 31st； 1746； was the day the STANDE consented： and January 10th； 1747； Cocceji and his Six set out for Pommern。 On a longish Enterprise； in that Province and the others；of which we shall have to take notice； and give at least the dates as they occur。
To sweep out pettifogging Attorneys； cancel improper Advocates； to regulate Fees； to war； in a calm but deadly manner； against pedantries； circumlocutions and the multiplied forms of stupidity； cupidity and human owlery in this department；and； on the whole； to realize from every Court； now and onwards； 〃A decision to all Lawsuits within a Year after their beginning。〃 This latter result； Friedrich thinks； will itself be highly beneficial； and be the sign of all manner of improvements。 And Cocceji； scanning it with those potent law…eyes of his； ventures to assure him that it will be possible。 As； in fact； it proved；honor to Cocceji and his King； and King's Father withal。 〃Samuel von Cocceji ＇says an old Note＇； son of a Law Professor； and himself once such；was picked up by Friedrich Wilhelm； for the Official career； many years ago。 A man of wholesome； by no means weakly aspect；to judge by his Portrait； which is the chief 'Biography' I have of him。 Potent eyes and eyebrows； ditto blunt nose； honest； almost careless lips； and deep chin well dewlapped： extensive penetrative face； not pincered together； but potently fallen closed；comfortable to see； in a wig of such magnitude。 Friedrich； a judge of men； calls him 'a man of sterling character （CARACTERE INTEGRE ET DROIT）； whose qualities would have suited the noble times of the Roman Republic。'〃 ＇ OEuvres； iv。 2。＇ He has his Herculean battle； his Master and he have； with the Owleries and the vulturous Law…Pedantries；which I always love Friedrich for detesting as he does：and； during the next five years； the world will hear often of Cocceji； and of this Prussian Law…Reform by Friedrich and him。
His Majesty's exertions to make Peace were not successful； what does lie in his power is； to keep out of the quarrel himself。 It appears great hopes were entertained； by some in England； of gaining Friedrich over； of making him Supreme Captain to the Cause of Liberty。 And prospects were held out to him； quasi…offers made； of a really magnificent nature；undeniable； though obscure。 Herr Ranke has been among the Archives again； and comes out with fractional snatches of a very strange 〃Paper from England；〃 capriciously hiding all details about it； all intelligible explanation： so that you in vain ask； 〃Where； When； How； By whom？〃 and can only guess to yourself that Carteret was somehow at the bottom of the thing； AUT CARTERETUS AUT DIABOLUS。 〃What would your Majesty think to be elected Stadtholder of Holland？ Without a Stadtholder； these Dutch are worth nothing； not hoistable； nor of use when hoisted； all palavering and pulling different ways。 Must have a Stadtholder； and one that stands firm on some basis of his own。 Stadtholder of Holland； King of Prussia；you then； in such position； take the reins of this poor floundering English… Dutch Germanic Anti…French War； you； and drive it in the style you have。 Conquer back the Netherlands to us； French Netherlands as well。 French and Austrian Netherlands together； yours in perpetuity； Dutch Stadtholderate as good as ditto： this； with Prussia and its fighting capabilities； will be a pleasant Protestant thing。 Austria cares little about the Netherlands； in comparison。 Austria； getting back its Lorraine and Alsace； will be content； will be strong on its feet。 What if it should even lose Italy？ France； Spain； Sardinia； the Italian Petty Principalities and Anarchies： suppose they tug and tussle； and collapse there as they can？ But let France try to look across the Rhine again； and to threaten Teutschland； England； and the Cause of Human Liberty temporal or spiritual！〃
This is authentically the purport of Herr Ranke's extraordinary Document； ＇Ranke； iii。 359。＇ guessable as due to CARTERETUS or DIABOLUS。 Here is an outlook； here is a career as Conquering Hero； if that were one's line！ A very magnificent ground…plan； hung up to kindle the fancy of a young King；who is far too prudent to go into it at all。 More definite quasi…official offers； it seems； were made him from the same quarter： Subsidies to begin with； such subsidies as nobody ever had before； say 1；000；000 pounds sterling by the Year。 To which Friedrich answered； 〃Subsidies； your Excellency？〃 （Are We a Hackney…Coachman； then？）and； with much contempt； turned his back on that offer。 No fighting to be had； by purchase or seduction； out of this young man。 Will not play the Conquering Hero at all； nor the Hackney…Coachman at all； has decided 〃not to fight a cat〃 if let alone； but to do and endeavor a quite other set of things； for the rest of his life。
Friedrich； readers can observe； is not uplifted with his greatness。 He has been too much beaten and bruised to be anything but modestly thankful for getting out of such a deadly clash of chaotic swords。 Seems to have little pride even in his 〃Five Victories；〃 or hides it well。 Talks not overmuch about these things； talks of them； so far as we can hear； with his old comrades only； in praise of THEIR prowesses； as a simple human being； not as a supreme of captains； and at times acknowledges； in a fine sincere way； the omnipotence of Luck in matters of War。
One of the most characteristic traits； extensively symbolical of Friedrich's intentions and outlooks at this Epoch； is his installing of himself in the little Dwelling…House； which has since become so celebrated under the name of Sans…Souci。 The plan of Sans…Soucian elegant commodious little 〃Country Box；〃 quite of modest pretensions； one story high； on the pleasant Hill…top near Potsdam； with other little green Hills； and pleasant views of land and water； all roundhad been sketched in part by Friedrich himself； and the diggings and terracings of the Hill…side were just beginning； when he quitted for the Last War。 〃April 14th； 1745；〃 while he lay in those perilous enigmatic circumstances at Neisse with Pandours and devouring bugbears round him； 〃the foundation… stone was laid〃 （Knobelsdorf being architect； once more； as in the old Reinsberg case）： and the work； which had been steadily proceeding while the Master struggled in those dangerous battles and adventures far away from it； was in good forwardness at his return。 An object of cheerful interest to him； prophetic of calmer years ahead。
It was not till May； 1747； that the formal occupation took place： 〃Mayday； 1747；〃 he had a grand House…heating； or 〃First Dinner； of 200 covers： and May 19th…20th was the first night of his sleeping there。〃 For the next Forty Years； especially as years advanced； he spent the most of his days and nights in this little Mansion； which became more and more his favorite retreat； whenever the noises and scenic etiquettes were not inexorable
