history of friedrich ii of prussia v 17-第8节
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lies in the usual dilapidated state； though by chance with a courageous old Governor in it； who will not surrender quite at once。
APRIL 18th； La Gallisonniere disembarks his Richelieu with a Sixteen Thousand； unopposed at Port…Mahon； or Fort St。 Philip； in Minorca； who instantly commences Siege there。 To the astonishment of England and his Grace of Newcastle who； except old Governor Blakeney； much in dilapidation （〃wooden platforms rotten；〃 〃batteries out of repair；〃 and so on）； have nothing ready for Richelieu in that quarter。 The story of Minorca； and the furious humors and tragic consummations that arose on it； being still well known； we will give the dates only。
FORT ST。 PHILIP； APRIL 18th…MAY 20th。 For a month； Richelieu； skilful in tickling the French troops； has been besieging； in a high and grandiose way； La Gallisonniere vigilantly cruising； old Blakeney； in spite of the rotten platforms； vigorously holding out； whenMay 19th； La Gallisonniere descries an English fleet in the distance； indisputably an English fleet； and clears his decks for a serious Affair just coming。 THURSDAY； 20th MAY； Admiral Byng accordingly （for it is he； son of that old seaworthy Byng； who once 〃blew out〃 a minatory Spanish Fleet and 〃an absurd Flame of War〃 in the Straits of Messina； and was made Lord Torrington in consequence；happily now dead）Admiral Byng does come on； and gains himself a name badly memorable ever since。 Attacks La Gallisonniere； in a wide…lying； languid； hovering； uncertain manner：〃Far too weak〃 he says； 〃much disprovided； destitute； by blame of Ministry and of everybody〃 （though about the strength of La Gallisonniere； after all）；is almost rather beaten by La Gallisonniere； does not in the least； beat him to the right degree：and sheers off： in the night…time； straight for Gibraltar again。 To La Gallisonniere's surprise； it is said； no doubt to old Blakeney and his poor Garrison's； left so； to their rotten platforms and their own shifts。
Blakeney and Garrison stood to their guns in a manful manner； for above a month longer； day after day； week after week； looking over the horizon for some Byng or some relief appearing； to no purpose！ JUNE 14th； there are three available breaches； the walls； however； are very sheer （a Fortress hewn in the rock）： Richelieu scanning them dubiously； and battering his best； for about a fortnight more； is ineffectual on Blakeney。
JUNE 27th； Richelieu； taking his measures well； tickling French honor well； has determined on storm。 Richelieu； giving order of the day； 〃Whosoever of you is found drunk shall NOT be of the storm… party〃 （which produced such a teetotalism as nothing else had done）；storms； that night； with extreme audacity。 The Place has to capitulate： glorious victory； honorable defence： and Minorca gone。
And England is risen to a mere smoky whirlwind； of rage； sorrow and darkness； against Byng and others。 Smoky darkness； getting streaked with dangerous fire。 〃Tried？〃 said his Grace of Newcastle to the City Deputation： 〃Oh indeed he shall be tried immediately； he shall be hanged directly！〃assure yourselves of that。 ＇Walpole； ii。 231： Details of the Siege； ib。 218…225； in Gentleman's Magazine； xxvi。 256； 312…313； 358； in Adelung； vii。； &c。 &c。＇ And Byng's effigy was burnt all over England。 And mobs attempt to burn his Seat and Park； and satires and caricatures and firebrands are coming out： and the poor Constitutional Country is bent on applying surgery； if it but know how。 Surgery to such indisputable abominations was certainly desirable。 The new Relief Squadron； which had been despatched by Majesty's Ministry； was too late for Blakeney； but did bring home a superseded Byng。
SPITHEAD； TUESDAY； 27th JULY； The superseded Byng arrives； is punctually arrested； on arriving： 〃Him we will hang directly： is there anything else we can try ＇except； perhaps； it were hanging of ourselves； and our fine methods of procedure＇； by way of remedying you？〃War against France； now a pretty plain thing； had been 〃declared；〃 17th May （French counter…declaring； 9th June）： and； under a Duke of Newcastle and a Hero of Culloden； not even pulling one way； but two ways； and a Talking…Apparatus full of discords at this time； and pulling who shall say how many ways； the prospects of carrying on said War are none of the best。 Lord Loudon； a General without skill； and commanding； as Pitt declares； 〃a scroll of Paper hitherto〃 （a good few thousands marked on it； and perhaps their Colonels even named）； is about going for America； by no means yet gone； a long way from gone： and； if the Laws of Nature be suspendedEnough of all that！
KING PRIEDRICH'S ENIGMA GETS MORE AND MORE STRINGENT。
Friedrich's situation； in those fatefully questionable months and for many past （especially from January 16th to July）；readers must imagine it； for there is no description possible。 In many intricacies Friedrich has been； but never； I reckon； in any equal to this。 Himself certain what the Two Imperial Women have vowed against him； self and Winterfeld certain of that sad truth； and all other mortals ready to deny it； and fly delirious on hint of it； should he venture to act in consequence！ Friedrich's situation is not unimaginable； when （as can now be done by candid inquirers who will take trouble enough） the one or two internal facts of it are disengaged from the roaring ocean of clamorous delusions which then enveloped them to everybody； and are held steadily in view； said ocean being well run off to the home of it very deep underground。 Lies do fall silent； truth waits to be recognized； not always in vain。 No reader ever will conceive the strangling perplexity of that situation； now so remote and extinct to us。 All I can do is； to set down what features of it have become indisputable； and leave them as detached traceries； as fractions of an outline； to coalesce into something of image where they can。
Winterfeld's opinion was； for some time past； distinct： 〃Attack them； since it is certain they only wait to attack us！〃 But Friedrich would by no means listen to that。 〃We must not be the aggressor； my friend； that would spoil all。 Perhaps the English will pacify the Russian CATIN for me； tie her； with packthreads； bribes and intrigues； from stirring？ Wait； watch！〃 Fiery Winterfeld； who hates the French； who despises the Austrians； and thinks the Prussian Army a considerable Fact in Politics； has great schemes： far too great for a practical Friedrich。 〃Plunge into the Austrians with a will： Prussian Soldiery；can Austrians resist it？ Ruin them； since they are bent on ruining us。 Stir up the Hungarian Protestants； try all things。 Home upon our implacable enemies； sword drawn； scabbard flung away！ And the French；what are the French？ Our King should be Kaiser of Teutschland； and he can； and he may：the French would then be quieter！〃 These things Winterfeld carried in his head； and comrades have heard them from him over wine。 ＇Retzow； i。 43； &c。＇ To all which Friedrich； if any whisper of them ever got to Friedrich； would answer one can guess how。
It is evident； Friedrich had not given up his hope （indeed； for above a year more； he never did） that England might； by profuse bribery；〃such the power of bribery in that mad court！〃assuage； overnet with backstairs packthreads； or in some way compesce the Russian delirium for him。 And England； his sole Ally in the world； still tender of Austria； and unable to believe what the full intentions of Austria are； England demands much wariness in his procedures towards Austria； reiterating always； 〃Wait； your Majesty！ Oh； beware！〃
His own Army； we need not say； is in perfect preparation。 The Army let us guess； 150；000 regular； or near 200；000 of all arms and kinds ＇Archenholtz （i； 8） counts vaguely 〃160；000〃 at this date。＇ never was so perfect before or since。 Old Captains in it； whom we used to know； are grayer and wiser； young； whom we heard less of； are grown veterans of trust。 Schwerin； much a Cincinnatus since we last saw him； has laid down his plough again； a fervid 〃little Marlborough〃 of seventy…two；and will never see that beautiful Schwerinsburg； and its thriving woods and farm…fields； any more。 Ugly Walrave is not now chief Engineer； one Balbi； a much prettier man； is。 Ugly Walrave （Winterfeld suspecting and watching him） was found out； convicted of 〃falsified accounts；〃 of 〃sending plans to the Enemy；〃 of who knows all what；and sits in Magdeburg （in a thrice…safe prison…cell of his own contriving）； prisoner for life。 ＇〃Arrested at Potsdam 12th February； 1748； and after trial put into the STERN at Magdeburg； sat there till he died； 16th January； 1773〃 （ Militalr…Lexikon； iv。 150…151）。＇ The Old Dessauer is away； long since； and not the Old alone。 Dietrich of Dessau is now 〃Guardian to his Nephew；〃 who is a Child left Heir there。 Death has been busy with the Dessauers：but here is Prince Moritz； 〃the youngest； more like his Father than any of them。〃 Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick； Moritz of Dessau； Keith； Duke of Brunswick…Bevern： no one of these people has been idle； in the ten years past。 Least of all； has the Chief Captain of them；whose diligence and vigilance in that sphere； latterly； were not likely to decline！
Friedrich's Army is in the perfection of
