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第67章

history of friedrich ii of prussia v 18-第67章

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d; but without effect。 Ferdinand was himself attending Contades; and mistakes were not likely。 Ferdinand; in the thick of the game (October 21st… 30th); 'made a masterly movement'that is to say; cut Contades and his Soubise irretrievably asunder: no junction now possible to them; the weaker of them liable to ruin;unless Contades; the stronger; would give battle; which; though greatly outnumbering Ferdinand; he was cautious not to do。 A melancholic cautious man; apt to be over…cautious;nicknamed 'L'APOTHECAIRE' by the Parisians; from his down looks;but had good soldier qualities withal。 Soubise and he haggled about; a short while;not a long; in these dangerous circumstances; and then had to go home again; without result; each the way he came; Contades himself repassing through Wesel; and wintering on his own side of the Rhine。〃

How Pitt is succeeding; and aiming to succeed; on the French Foreign Settlements: on the Guinea Coast; on the High Seas everywhere; in the West Indies; still more in the East;where General Lally (that fiery O'MulLALLY; famous since Fontenoy); missioned with 〃full…powers;〃 as they call them; is raging up and down; about Madras and neighborhood; in a violent; impetuous; more and more bankrupt manner:Of all this we can say nothing for the present; little at any time。 Here are two facts of the financial sort; sufficiently illuminative。 The much…expending; much… subsidying Government of France cannot now borrow except at 7 per cent Interest; and the rate of Marine Insurance has risen to 70 per cent。 'Retzow; ii。 5。' One way and other; here is a Pitt clearly progressive; and a long…pending JENKINS'S…EAR QUESTION in a fair way to be settled!

Friedrich stays in Saxony about a month; inspecting and adjusting; thence to Breslau; for Winter…quarters。 His Winter is like to be a sad and silent one; this time; with none of the gayeties of last Year; the royal heart heavy enough with many private sorrows; were there none of public at all! This is a word from him; two days after finishing Daun for the season:


FRIEDRICH TO MYLORD MARISCHAL (at Colombier in Neufchatel)。 

〃DRESDEN; 23d November; 1758。

〃There is nothing left for us; MON CHER MYLORD; but to mingle and blend our weeping for the losses we have had。 If my head were a fountain of tears; it would not suffice for the grief I feel。

〃Our Campaign is over; and there has nothing come of it; on one side or the other; but the loss of a great many worthy people; the misery of a great many poor soldiers crippled forever; the ruin of some Provinces; the ravage; pillage and conflagration of some flourishing Towns。 Exploits these which make humanity shudder: sad fruits of the wickedness and ambition of certain People in Power; who sacrifice everything to their unbridled passions! I wish you; MON CHER MYLORD; nothing that has the least resemblance to mv destiny; and everything that is wanting to it。 Your old friend; till death。〃F。 ' OEuvres de Frederic;  xx。 273。'





End of V 18


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