The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz Volume III Part 1

The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz.

Volume III.

by Karl Ludwig von Pollnitz.

MEMOIRS

OF THE

Baron de POLLNITZ.

VOL. III.

To Madame de ----

The Family I am descended from was originally of _Thuringia_. My Grandfather, after having turn'd Protestant, came and settled in the Electorate of _Brandenburg_, where he was kindly receiv'd, and advanc'd to the chief Employments by the Elector _Frederic-William_, who made him Master of the Horse, Minister of State, Chamberlain, Major-General, Colonel of his Guards, and Commandant at _Berlin_. His Brother who came along with him had also a share of his Favor; for he was made Colonel of a Regiment of Horse, Lieutenant-General, and Governor of _Lipstadt_. They both married, but the only one that left Male Issue was my Grandfather, who by _Eleonora_ of _Na.s.sau_, Daughter to Prince _Maurice_ of _Orange_, had two Sons, and two Daughters. This however prov'd a very unsuitable Match; for my Grandmother was imperious, frugal, and jealous, whereas her Husband was extravagant, and an Admirer of the Fair s.e.x: which Tempers so opposite to each other created a Misunderstanding between them, that amounted almost to a staunch Hatred. Yet my Grandfather, some time before he died, settled all his Estate upon her, repented of the Vexation he had given her, and he thought this Generosity of his would have made her easy, but it only render'd her the more impatient to be a Widow, insomuch that she had not the Complaisance to conceal it from him; and the very last Words he liv'd to hear her p.r.o.nounce, were neither comforting nor Christian.

Soon after the Death of my Grandfather my Uncle died, who was my Father's own Brother. The only Issue he left was a Daughter, who was chief Maid of Honour to the Queen _Sophia Charlotte_, whose Bounties to her render'd her a Person of no small Note in _Germany_.

My Father married the Daughter of Baron _D----_ by whom he had my Brother in 1690. I was born thirteen Months after him, _viz._ the 25th of _February_ 1692, at _Issouin_, a Village in the Electorate of _Cologn_, where my Father then lay with his Regiment in Winter-Quarters. The Electoress was my G.o.d-mother, and I was christen'd _Charles-Lewis_. Before I was full two years of Age I had the misfortune to lose my Father, who died at _Maestricht_, and left my Mother a Widow with three Children, and a very little Estate to maintain us. My Grandmother, who, as I had said before, had all my Grandfather's Estate, was so extremely penurious, that she had not the heart to part with any of it to my Mother, whose Situation would have been very melancholy had it not been for the Generosity of the King (at that time only Elector). This Prince sent for her back to _Berlin_, and gave her a Pension; and in a little time after, my Relations help'd her to another Husband, _viz. M. de M----_ Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who tho' he died at the end of ten Months left her so warm a Widow, that me might very well pa.s.s for one of the best Fortunes at Court; and then she threw up her Pension, rather than keep it to the prejudice of other Persons that stood more in need of it, which she thought was an Abuse of the Elector's Bounty.

My Mother's Fondness for me would not suffer her to part with me, so that I was brought up under her Wing, and at a Court which was at that time the most splendid in _Germany_.

_Frederic-William_, when he died, left five Princes, _viz._ the Elector, whom he had by _Louisa-Henrietta_ of _Na.s.sau_ Princess of _Orange_; and the Margraves _Charles_, _Philip_, _Albert_, and _Christian_, by _Dorothy_ Princess of _Holstein_, Dowager of the Duke of _Zell_. These Princes, at an Age more proper for Pleasure than Business, studied how to be most agreeable. Being frank and generous they adorn'd the Court, even more by their personal Qualities than by their Magnificence; and the Elector himself contributed to the splendor of it, by giving frequent Feasts, tho'

he was reproach'd with being too much addicted to them, too scrupulous in the Ceremonies he requir'd to be observ'd at them, and more expensive in them than elegant. Nevertheless, this is what strikes Foreigners more than any thing; and 'tis Entertainments of this kind that give a Court its fullest l.u.s.tre. The true Ornament of ours was the Electoress, Daughter of _Ernest Augustus_, Elector of _Hanover_, and Sister to _George_ I. King of _England_. Our Elector, after burying his first Wife the Princess of _Hesse_, marry'd his second on the 28th of _September_ 1684, when he was only the Electoral Prince. The latter Princess, from what Lineage soever Heaven had sent her, had Qualities that would have procur'd her respect: Her Beauty was regular, and tho' she was but little in stature, her Air was majestic. She spoke all the Languages of _Europe_ that are in present use, with ease, and was so good as to converse with all Foreigners in their own Tongue. She understood History, Natural Philosophy, and Divinity; but with Knowledge so extensive, she was extremely careful to avoid the reputation of being Learned. As fond as she was of Reading, she was not an enemy to Pleasures. She lov'd Music, Dancing, and Plays; and by her command, Comedies were often represented, in which sometimes she did not disdain to be an Actress. Her regard for all who excell'd in any Art drew them to her Court, in which Politeness bore sway, as much as in any other Court of _Europe_. Of all things in the world she had nothing near so much at heart as the Education of her Son the Electoral Prince, whom she lov'd tenderly, and omitted nothing to inspire him with all the Ideas that might hereafter render him as exalted in Sentiments as he was to be in Power: And the young Prince on his part seem'd to make a suitable return for the Princess's care of him.

While the Court was thus addicted to Pleasures and Feastings, they gave themselves little or no trouble about the Affairs of Government; so that _Dankelman_ the Prime Minister bore the weight of all. He had then the Elector's intire Confidence, and so absolute an ascendant over his mind, that he was suppos'd to be perfectly secure against the disgraces to which Favorites are commonly expos'd. The Favor he stood in, was owing to the most important Service that 'tis possible for a Subject to render to his Sovereign: For one day when this Prince (as yet only the Prince Electoral) was drinking Coffee with his Mother-in-law the Electoress, he was taken so ill on a sudden that he was oblig'd to retire to his Apartment, where he was seiz'd with Convulsions which threaten'd his Life. It happen'd that _Dankelman_ then the Secretary of his Dispatches was the only Person at hand, to relieve him: He open'd a Box in which there were certain Antidotes, and having given him several Doses, for want of a Surgeon and a Lancet he open'd a Vein with a Penknife; and his management was attended with such good success, that the Prince, after having had a hearty Vomit, found himself quite out of danger.

An Event of this nature could not but make a great Noise: The Vulgar especially, who are fond of nothing so much as what is extraordinary, thought that the Prince's Indisposition did not proceed from a natural Cause, but imagin'd that the Electoress's tenderness for the Margraves her Sons was reason good enough to suspect that she wanted to get rid of the Prince her Son-in-law, which was to be sure the shortest way to let them into the Succession. The Electoral Prince's retreat to the Court of the Landgrave of _Hesse-Ca.s.sel_ seemed to give a Sanction also to a Suspicion of that sort. But be this as it will, the Prince stay'd there several years, during which he married the Landgrave's Sister, by whom he had only one Daughter, who marry'd in 1700, to the Hereditary Prince of _Hesse_, now King of _Sweden_.

_Dankelman_ was artful enough to make his advantage of this happy Incident of having sav'd his Master's Life: He stuck closer to him than ever; and that grateful Prince, as soon he came to the Electoral Dignity, made him his prime Minister, and confer'd all the marks of Friendship on him, that 'tis possible for any Subject to aspire to; insomuch that _Dankelman_ giving the Elector to understand one day, that he fear'd his Favour would be of no long duration, this Prince was so good-natur'd, or so weak, as to fortify him as far as was in the power of the most solemn Oaths[1].

_Dankelman_ was so credulous as to trust to those Protestations; and forgetting that the most solid Friendship of Princes cannot be proof against their Inconstancy or Caprice, he thought himself above the reach of Fate, and behav'd like a Man that had nothing to fear. But the little care he took to gain People's Love, and the ever-odious t.i.tles of Minister and Favourite, made him soon hated by the whole Court. The Elector himself began by degrees to be out of conceit with him; for their Tempers were incompatible; the Minister being Covetous, and the Prince a Man of Pomp and Expence; and he was so perpetually teaz'd with the Remonstrances of _Dankelman_, that he hated him in his heart long before he durst make it appear. The Minister too much elated with his Favour, and not so careful to please his Master as to censure his Actions, thought himself able to preserve the same ascendant over him, or at least, did not think the Elector would ever offer to ruin him; which Confidence of his hinder'd him from parrying the Thrusts that were made at him in secret; so that he was arrested at midnight in his own House, and carry'd to _Spandaw_ in one of the Elector's Coaches, under a Guard of twenty Men.

His being so suddenly disgrac'd was matter of surprize to every body, but of concern to few. 'Twas observ'd that on the very day wherein _Dankelman_ was arrested, the Elector spoke to him so kindly in presence of the whole Court, that those of the nicest penetration little thought his Fall to be so near. Indeed, every body had long before endeavour'd, or wish'd for an opportunity to trip up his heels; and the natural Inconstancy of the Elector to his Favorites, and this Minister's want of complaisance to the Elector, made it very probable that he would quickly be tumbled from that Summit of Favor, on which he thought himself so sure of keeping his Hold; there wanted only a more specious pretext to remove a Man from Court, who had all along seem'd to aim at nothing but the welfare of the Government; and such a one naturally presented itself in the affair of the Duchy of _Limbourg_.

This Duchy had been mortgag'd by _Spain_, as Security for considerable Sums which were owing by that Crown to the Elector, who in consequence put his Troops to quarter there for the Winter. The _Dutch_, to whom _Spain_ was a Debtor in like manner, would gladly also have had that Duchy made over to them, as Security for their Debt; which not being to be done without the evacuation of our Troops, the matter was propos'd to _Dankelman_, who, whether he was surpriz'd, or brib'd, gave his consent to it. This was imputed to him as a Crime of State the more heinous, because _Spain_ being at that time ready to conclude a Peace with _France_, in pursuance of the Treaty of _Ryswic_, was very indifferent as to complying with the Demands of the Elector. To this the Minister fell a Sacrifice, but by good luck for him he had remitted several Sums to Foreign Countries, so that his disgrace was the lighter; which moreover had this singularity in it, that neither of his three Brothers nor any of his Creatures had a share in it, but were all continued in their Employments; and all the alteration that happen'd, was, that the Count _de Barfous_, then a Veldt-Marshal, performed for some time the Functions of the Prime Minister.

In the mean time another Idol of Fortune rose upon the ruin of _Dankelman_. This was _John Casimir de Kolbe_, a Gentleman originally of the Palatinate: His first appearance at Court was in the time of _Frederic-William_ the Great, in the retinue of the Princess-Palatine _de Simmeren_, Sister of the first Electoress, who having desir'd the Elector to give _Kolbe_ some Employment; he made him a Privy-Counsellor, but gave him liberty to attend the Princess as much as ever, who was so good to him that she was reproach'd with caring for no body else. He went with her into the Palatinate, where that Princess died soon after, and then _Kolbe_ return'd to Court, where he was a meer Stranger, without Relations, Acquaintance or Protection; and 'twas a long time before any the least notice was taken of him. But after the death of _Frederic-William_, he made his Court to _Frederic_ his Son who succeeded him, and to _Dankelman_ his Minister. Being always humble, and a Flatterer into the bargain, he quickly gain'd their Friendship by his a.s.siduity, and by his study'd Affectation not to meddle or make in any Affairs. _Dankelman_, as crafty a Man as he was, did not perceive the Snare, but contributed most of all to his Favor, thinking all the while that he was promoting a Creature from whom he had nothing to fear. But _Kolbe_ no sooner perceiv'd the Elector's Coldness to his Minister than he resolv'd to make his Advantage of it. He did not alter his Measures immediately, but seeming to have as little Concern in Affairs as ever, his only Aim was to feed and propagate the ill Humors which the Elector was often in with his Favorite. This Prince was inconstant, suspicious and choleric; and when those three Pa.s.sions were stirr'd up and managed, he was to be persuaded to any thing. _Kolbe_ who for a long time had made his Temper his only Study, plainly perceiv'd his Foible, artfully wrought upon it, and in the sequel made it subservient to the Accomplishment of his Designs. He soon attain'd to the highest Degree of Favor; the Elector made him his Great Chamberlain and First Minister; all the Court was oblig'd to truckle to him; and as it always happens in the Changes of Government, the Minister in Disgrace was regretted. Indeed _Kolbe_ did not want for personal Qualities enough to make him belov'd; but the worst on't was, they were eclips'd by an astonishing Fondness for his Wife, to whom he was so blindly complaisant, that all the good People at Court despis'd and hated him.

This Lady has play'd so extraordinary a Part in the World, that I can't avoid giving you some Account of her Origin and Character. Her Father, one _Rickers_, was a Bargeman at _Emmerick_, a Town in the Duchy of _Cleves_, where for better Subsistance he kept a sort of Tavern. He had two Daughters, who pa.s.s'd for fine Women, that brought a good deal of Company to his House, and in a Journey which the Elector made to _Cleves, Bidekan_ his Valet de Chambre fell in love with the eldest, the Lady I am speaking of, marry'd her and took her with him to _Berlin_, where she fell so pa.s.sionately in love with _Kolbe_, that after having been his Mistress in her Husband's Life-time, he was hardly cold in his Grave but she became his Wife. The Wedding was kept at the House of one _Commesser_, another of the Elector's Valets de Chambre, where that Prince was present, with seven or eight Persons in his Company; and from that very Juncture he began to shew such great Marks of Complaisance to the Lady, that several People thought she ow'd them to something more than to the Friendship he had for his Favorite. Nevertheless I am very well persuaded they were mistaken; and I remember, that when I was Gentleman of the Bed-chamber to the Elector, he said to me in one of his ill Humors with his Favorite and his Wife (and in these sort of Pets he was not capable of dissembling) _I know the Notion that prevails of my being under certain Tyes to +Kolbe's+ Lady, but there is nothing in it_; _and the Wrong is greater to me than to her_.

For really was it not enough for a Woman of such mean Extraction, Parts and Beauty too, to be the Wife of a Minister, but she must also be ambitious to be the Mistress of a Sovereign? Yet it must be confess'd, that whether it was meer Humor, or a weak Attachment to the Favorite, the Elector heap'd Wealth and Honors upon this Lady, insomuch that nothing would serve him but she must be admitted to the Electoress's Circle, who at that time indeed obstinately refus'd it; for who is there would not have been disgusted to have seen the Daughter of _Rickers_ the Bargeman mixing with Ladies of Quality that had a Right to be in the Circle?

However, some time after, the Electoress was oblig'd to wave all the Pleas of Decorum, for the sake of the Need she stood in of the Great Chamberlain; and his Wife had the Honor of the Circle.

The same Year that _Kolbe_ was declared Prime Minister, the Emperor made him a Count of the Empire. He then chang'd his Name for that of Count _de Wartemberg_, which was the Name of a ruinous Castle that he had in the _Palatinate_. His Lady, when she became a Countess, had a mind that her Children by her first Marriage should be promoted to the Dignity of Barons; and they were accordingly call'd Barons of _Asbach_. But these new t.i.tles of the Count and Barons compleatly turn'd the Head of Madame _de Wartemberg_, and she was every day guilty of Extravagancies which were disgusting and ridiculous.

Such, _Madame_, was the State of our Court in my early years. It began to shew its Superiority over almost all the Courts of _Germany_, by the Influence it had upon the Affairs of _Europe_: But that which added new l.u.s.tre to it, was the erecting the Duchy of _Prussia_ into a Kingdom. The first Hint of this was given by _France_ to _Frederic-William_; but that Elector, whether it was owing to some Obstacles that he foresaw, or to the little Advantage he thought to reap from it, was not willing to put the Project in execution. His Son too perhaps would have miscarried in it, had it not been for the Situation of Affairs in _Europe_, on account of the _Spanish_ Succession. _Kolbe_, whom I shall hereafter call the Count of _Wartemberg_, had all the Honour of this Event, because it happen'd in his Ministry. I had some Particulars, _Madame_, from his own Mouth, which I think important enough to have a place in these Memoirs. The Affair is moreover so weighty of it self that I shall trace it from its very beginning.

Great Events commonly have their Source in Trifles. This was owing to nothing more than the Refusal of the Prince of _Orange_, who was King of _England_, to give an Arm-Chair to the Elector in a Conference betwixt those two Princes at the _Hague_ in 1695. The Elector cou'd not bear that the Prince of _Orange_, who had always been his Inferior, shou'd carry it to him in such a lofty manner, after Fortune had rais'd him to the Throne of _England_; and from that time he resolved to be a King too.

_Dankelman_ the then Prime Minister, who cou'd not foresee the Situation that _Europe_ was in some Years after, would fain have diverted the Elector from a Project which he thought a perfect Chimaera; he put him in mind of the Difficulties _Frederic-William_ met with in it, and of the Reasons he had to refuse the Offers which _France_ made to him on that head; he shew'd him that the same Reasons were still subsisting, and reinforc'd by yet greater Difficulties; and that it was Madness to attempt a Thing, the Success whereof was neither certain nor advantageous, his Rank being so near a-kin to Royalty, that he would be never the better for the t.i.tle. But the Elector had the refusal of the Arm-chair too much at heart to hearken to any Reasons that could be brought against his Design, and sent _Dankelman_, his Minister's Brother, to _Vienna_, to impart to the Emperor the Scheme which he had form'd to erect _Prussia_ into a Kingdom.

_Prussia_, which is a Province detach'd from _Poland_, formerly belong'd to the _Lithuanians_, from whom it was conquer'd by the _Teutonic_ Order.

_Albert_ Margrave of _Brandenburg_, the Grand Master of the said Order, who had marry'd _Dorothy_, Daughter of _Frederic_ I. King of _Denmark_, took it from those Knights in 1511, and made himself Master of it. This engag'd him in a War with _Sigismond_ I. King of _Poland_, his Uncle by the Mother's side, who had Pretensions upon the said Province; which War continu'd five Years, till it was concluded by a Treaty, whereby it was stipulated, That the Eastern _Prussia_ shou'd remain hereditary with the t.i.tle of a Duchy to _Albert_, who, together with his Descendants shou'd perform Allegiance and Homage for it to the King and Republic of _Poland_, to which it was to revert on the failure of Issue Male in the Family of _Albert_.

The Emperor _Charles_ V. oppos'd this Transaction, by pretending that _Prussia_ was a Fief of the Empire; and that therefore _Sigismond_ had no Right to dispose of it. The Imperial Decree which was pa.s.s'd upon this Occasion, had however no Effect, by reason of the Wars which the Emperor was at that time engag'd in, and _Albert_ remain'd in peaceable Possession of _Prussia_. He was succeeded by his only Son _Albert-Frederic_, who receiv'd the Invest.i.ture of it from the King of _Poland_, for himself and his Cousin-Germans in 1569. This Prince dying without Issue, _John Sigismond_ Elector of _Brandenburg_ succeeded him, and again receiv'd the Invest.i.ture of it from the King of _Poland_, for himself and his three Brothers. Since that time the Duchy of _Prussia_ has always been in the _Brandenburg_ Family from Father to Son; but the Elector _Frederic-William_ the Great, having made War upon _Charles-Gustavus_ King of _Sweden_, in favour of the Crown and Republic of _Poland_, the Sovereignty of _Prussia_ was, in Acknowledgment thereof, yielded to him, for himself and all his Male Descendants, by the Treaty of _Bydgost_ in 1659.

By virtue of this Treaty, the Elector claim'd that _Prussia_ depended on no other Power; and that he held it immediately by Divine Right; and upon this Plea he thought himself authoriz'd to be declar'd King. But before he took this Step, it was necessary to secure the Consent of a Part, at least, of the Princes of the Empire. As the Emperor's Consent was not only the most important, but the most difficult to obtain, the whole stress of the Negociation lay almost at the Court of _Vienna_.

When _Dankelman_ arriv'd there, he did not find the Court in a Temper to grant it. The august t.i.tle of a King conferr'd upon an Elector, was at first thought to be prejudicial to the Imperial Authority, and it was look'd upon as exposing of that Dignity, to acquiesce in the Elector's Demand before they had at least felt the Pulses of the Generality of the Princes of _Europe_, and especially those of the Empire. 'Twas but reasonable to imagine the Pope would oppose it strenuously upon the score of the Protestant Religion, which by the Elector's Advancement might gather fresh Strength. All Kings in general were interested not to suffer an Instance which had a seeming Tendency to authorize every Prince to take the same Step, on the single Pretence of being possess'd of a Bit of Land, and holding it of no Power but G.o.d. But the Persons from whom the greatest Objections were expected, were the Electors; and indeed they had reason to fear, 1. That when the Elector of _Brandenburg_ came to be a King, he wou'd no longer look upon them as his Equals, but wou'd claim certain Distinctions from them in the Empire and in the Dyets. 2. That he would withdraw the Dominions of his Electorate from the Obedience of the Empire, and from the Laws to which all the other Electors were subject.

This Article was of the utmost consequence to them, especially with regard to the Contingent they are oblig'd to furnish towards Wars which concern the Empire, and which are the more burthensome, the fewer Heads they fall upon.

These being then the Notions of the Court of _Vienna_, _Dankelman_ had no great Hopes of succeeding in his Negociation. Nevertheless the Court always took care to keep fair with the Elector, whom they look'd upon as an Ally that was well worth preserving; and perhaps they flatter'd themselves they should get more by Promises and Expectations than by granting him his Demand.

The Death of _John Sobieski_ King of _Poland_, which happen'd on the 17th of _June_ 1696, was another Inducement to the Emperor to pursue the same Politics. The Elector of _Brandenburg_ by having _Prussia_ in his Neighbourhood, might be of great Weight in the Election of a new King of _Poland_; and the Emperor who had a Design to advance the Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_ to the Throne, pretended to enter into the Views of the Elector, that this Prince might afterwards fall in with his at the Dyet of Election. For this end the Emperor's Ministers gave _Dankelman_ to understand, that the first thing to be done was to clear the Difficulties which the several Powers of _Europe_ might raise against the Elector's Project; and that the Congress of _Ryswic_, at which all the Ministers were to be present, was the most favourable Opportunity.

Hereupon _Dankelman_ was recall'd from the Court of _Vienna_, and sent to _Ryswic_ as Plenipotentiary from the Elector, jointly with M. _de Schmettau_. The Elector for his part set out for _Konigsberg_, the Capital of _Prussia_, that he might be nearer at hand to favor the Election of the Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_. Mean time he was strenuously sollicited in favor of _Alexander_ and _Constantine_ Princes of _Poland_, who for that reason came themselves to _Berlin_; but the Elector was far from breaking the secret Engagements which he had made with the Emperor: Therefore he answer'd the Solicitations of those two Princes in a very ambiguous manner, by engaging himself to nothing, and only telling them that he was going into _Prussia_ that he might be the better inform'd of every thing that pa.s.s'd at the Dyet of Election.

The Necessity which the Elector stood in of _Poland_ to succeed in his Views, laid him under an indispensible Obligation to concern himself in that Election. He fully expected that the Right which the said Republic claim'd to _Prussia_ wou'd induce it to oppose his Designs with Vigor; and besides, under the Pretext of interesting himself in the Election of a King, he might form a Party that hereafter would be capable to serve him; therefore, as soon as he arriv'd at _Konigsberg_, he dispatch'd a Messenger to the Cardinal _Radziowsky_ Primate of _Poland_, to acquaint him of his Arrival, and sent M. _Dorerbeck_ Great Cup-bearer of _Prussia_ as his Amba.s.sador to the Dyet of Election, with Orders to support the Interests of the Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_, but in the mean time to do nothing that might disoblige the _Poles_.

The Margrave _Lewis_ of _Baden_ was soon out of the Question; for the two strongest Parties oblig'd him to retire, as well as the other Compet.i.tors for the Crown. These two Parties were the one for _Frederic-Augustus_ Elector of _Saxony_, and the other for the Prince of _Conti_. The Cardinal Primate favor'd the latter, and _France_ seem'd to have his Election very much at heart; yet _Frederic-Augustus_'s Party carried it, and he was proclaim'd King.

The Cardinal Primate was still obstinate for the Prince of _Conti_, and actually sent one of his near Relations to the Elector to sollicit him in his Favor; but the Elector, who thought the Elector of _Saxony_'s Party the most substantial and the most powerful, did not scruple to own him for King, and return'd for Answer to the Cardinal, That he advis'd him, as the Chief Pastor of _Poland_, to maintain Peace in his Flock, and to submit to the Elector of _Saxony_. Nevertheless the Primate stood out stiffly, and form'd a Party in _Poland_, considerable enough to give the new King Uneasiness. The Elector still persevering in his Views to make himself necessary to _Poland_, return'd next year to _Konigsberg_, in hopes of appeasing the Disturbances rais'd there by the two different Parties.

_Kolbe_, who was not yet Count of _Wartemberg_, but only Great Chamberlain, made a Journey to _Warsaw_ for this purpose, on the part of the Elector, and complimented the King on his Accession to the Crown. The King in his Turn sent the Count _de Bilinsky_ Great Chamberlain of the Crown to the Elector, to compliment him on his Arrival at _Konigsberg_, and there to negociate an Interview betwixt them. The Elector wish'd for it too heartily to refuse it, and _Fredericshoss_, one of his Pleasure-houses, was chose for the place of Meeting. There every thing pa.s.s'd, as is common upon those Occasions; a great deal of Business was talk'd of, and referred to the Ministers for Conclusion. The two Princes made each other magnificent Presents, and exchang'd all the Tokens of the sincerest Friendship. This Union seem'd still increasing by the Sale which the King of _Poland_ made this year to the Elector of the Fee for protecting the Abbey-Town of _Quedlimbourg_, which no Elector of _Saxony_ would ever part with before, whatsoever Instances were made to them by the Family of _Brandenburg_. The Elector had less Reason than any of his Predecessors to hope for Success in this Affair. _Poland_, besides the Pleas of Interest, had others of Resentment; and this Prince's Conduct in the affair of _Elbing_ bid fair to set the King and the Elector at variance. The Dispute was about a Demand of 400,000 Crowns which the Elector made upon _Poland_, for the Expences of the War, which his Father, _Frederic-William_ the Great, had carry'd on in favor of the Republic against _Charles_ XI. King of _Sweden_. The King of _Poland_ in the Interview at _Fredericshoff_ had promis'd to persuade the Republic to pay that Sum. The Elector whose Patience was worn out in Expectation of the Performance, notwithstanding the many Reasons he had to keep fair with _Poland_, caused the City of _Elbing_, which had been mortgag'd to him for that Sum, to be invested. And M. _de Brantz_, my Uncle, who was Lieutenant-General, was sent upon this Expedition, at the Head of a Body of 12000 Men.

The _Poles_ no sooner heard of it but they made a very great Clamor, and the King complain'd loudly of the Elector's Proceeding, who being, _said he_, his Cousin, his Friend, and Ally, ought to have had more Regard for him. 'Twas at least after this manner that he express'd himself in the Circular Letters, which he wrote to a.s.semble the n.o.bility of _Poland_. But the Elector went on still his own way, and the City of _Elbing_ was taken before the _Poles_ had so much as a Thought of defending it. As soon as the King of _Poland_ was told of it, he ordered the Elector's Resident to depart the City of _Thorn_ in 24 Hours, and the Kingdom without Delay. M.

_de Reitwitz_, Envoy of _Poland_ to the Elector, fearing the same Treatment, was absent from Court for a Fortnight; but return'd then, causing his Appearance to be notify'd to the Ministers, not as Envoy from the King of _Poland_, but as Envoy from the Elector of _Saxony_. By this piece of Management 'tis plain that the King of _Poland_ did not take the Affair of _Elbing_ so much to heart as he seem'd to do; and some time after the Matter was accommodated; the Elector consenting to lose one fourth of the Debt, and the _Poles_ promising to pay the rest at the Expiration of three Months, and depositing their King's Crown for Security. The Elector on his part restor'd _Elbing_ on condition nevertheless, that he should have it again at the three Month's end, if the 300,000 Crowns were not then paid. This Affair has ever since remain'd _in statu quo_: The _Poles_ are still Debtors for that Sum, and the Elector contents himself with detaining the Crown, which is still at _Berlin_, in the Gallery over the great Stables, where 'tis kept in a Case, seal'd with the Seal of the Kingdom of _Poland_.

Mean time the Peace of _Ryswic_ was just sign'd, and sooner than expected, by reason _France_ receded from several Pretensions; which every body knows she was induc'd to do from the View she had at that time to the _Spanish_ Succession, and to that end it was absolutely necessary for her to make a Peace with that Power and to disarm the Allies. Consequently Messieurs _Dankelman_ and _Schmettau_ had no time to push the Negociation of the Affair of _Prussia_ any farther; nevertheless they acted with the _Dutch_ to some purpose.

The Elector had sent _Bartholdi_ to _Vienna_ in the place of _Dankelman_, and M. _Blaspiel_ to _Dusseldorff_ to the Elector _Palatine_, whom he thought proper to treat with extraordinary Regard, as well upon his own Account, as with relation to the Empress his Sister who had a very great Ascendant over the Emperor.

_Bartholdi_ when he arriv'd at _Vienna_ found the Court in the very same Disposition as it was in the time of _Dankelman_. There was a great shew of Good-will, but no Advance made; for the Emperor's Ministers were never at a loss for a Reason to defer coming to the Point. The Republic of _Poland_ furnish'd very cogent ones too, by the Protestations it made against every Step taken towards erecting _Prussia_ into a Kingdom, on pretence that it formerly belong'd to the Republic, and that the _Poles_ only suffer'd it to fall to the House of _Brandenburg_, on condition of its reverting to them on the Failure of Issue Male in that Family. The Emperor said he could not help having Regard to those Protestations, the Alliance which he had been in for a long time with the Republic being become much firmer since the raising the Siege of _Vienna_, when _John Sobiesky_ at the Head of the _Poles_ so effectually reliev'd it.

_Bartholdi_ being dishearten'd with all these Delays, began to despair of the Success of the Negociation. He flatter'd himself for a while that the languishing State of _Charles_ II. King of _Spain_, which presag'd his approaching Death, and the cruel War between the Houses of _Austria_ and _Bourbon_, on account of the _Spanish_ Succession, would promote the Success of his Master's Designs; and that the State Policy which at that Juncture oblig'd the Emperor to strengthen himself with Allies, would make him chuse to retain in his Party a Prince so powerful and so necessary to his Interests as the Elector. But _Bartholdi_ was deceiv'd; and whether the Court of _Vienna_ flatter'd itself that the Elector wou'd never venture to take the part of _France_, or whether they thought it more nearly concern'd them to humor the Powers that oppos'd the Elector's Views, they had always some fresh Pretence or other to trump up.

_Bartholdi_ cou'd not avoid giving an Account to the Elector his Master of what he thought of these continual Delays, and he told him there was no manner of Reason to hope that the Emperor would recognize him for King before he was sure of the Consent of the Pope, and of all the Princes of the Empire; that it was easy to see this was only a civil Excuse that the Emperor made use of for his Refusal, rather than to make him his Enemy; and that the Case was really so desperate, that he knew of but one Stratagem to make use of before he retir'd; and that was that he shou'd write with his own Hand to the Prince of ----, who, said _Bartholdi_, was the only Person in the World to induce the Emperor to be more favorable.

His Dispatch was written in a Cypher, and the Secretary who decypher'd it, thought he met with the Name of the Emperor's Confessor, instead of that of the Prince of ----. The Elector approv'd of his Minister's Hint, and wrote immediately to the Confessor, who happen'd to be a Jesuit. This Reverend Father was overjoy'd to find himself courted by one of the greatest Protestant Princes, and promising himself that he should reap considerable Advantages for his Society, from the Success of a Negociation which the Elector had so much at heart, and in which two of his most able Ministers had already miscarried, he made no scruple to undertake it.

As soon as he began to meddle with it, it a.s.sum'd a new Face; the Court of _Rome_ made but a faint Opposition to it: That of _Vienna_ being alarmed at the News they received from the Count _de Harrach_ their Amba.s.sador at _Madrid_, of the bad State of the King of _Spain_'s Health, and of the _Spaniards_ Bya.s.s for the Duke of _Anjou_, became more tractable; and the very Reasons that _Bartholdi_ urg'd in vain, began to be relish'd when they were represented by the Confessor. This Jesuit convinc'd the Emperor, that as he was resolv'd to dispute the Succession to the Crown of _Spain_ with _France_, such an Ally as the Elector would give great Weight to either of the two Parties that he fell in with. The Confessor's Arguments were applauded by some, and faintly rejected by others; so that the Father, by craftily taking advantage of the Good-Will of the latter, and of the Lethargy of the former, brought the Affair of _Prussia_ in less than two Month's Time to the Point of a happy Conclusion.

While such effectual Endeavors were us'd for the Elector at the Court of _Vienna_, his Interest was as successfully manag'd with the King of _England_. The Electoress, together with her Mother the Electoress of _Hanover_, went to pay him a Visit at _Aix la Chapelle_; and in that Interview, these two Princesses prevail'd on King _William_ of _England_ to recognize the Elector of _Brandenburg_ for King of _Prussia_, and to call the House of _Hanover_ to the Succession of the Crown of _England_.

One particular Circ.u.mstance in this Journey that prov'd of such Service to the Elector's Designs, and which many People look'd upon as a politic Action, is, that it would not have been undertaken, had it not been for the extreme Fondness of Madame _de Wartemberg_ to be admitted in the Electoress's Circle. This Princess upon the Intelligence she receiv'd that her Mother the Electoress of _Hanover_ was going to _Aix la Chapelle_, was very desirous to go with her, but she cou'd not hope to obtain the Elector's Consent to it, nor to have Money enough with her to bear her Expences, if the Count _de Wartemberg_ oppos'd it; and therefore she charg'd Madamoiselle _de Pollnitz_ my Cousin to speak to him about it. The Count _de Wartemberg_ promis'd not only to obtain the Elector's Consent, but also to give the Electoress an Order at large to take up any Sums of Money that she should want, provided that Princess would on her part only acknowledge the Favor, by granting his Wife the Honor of Admittance to her Circle. The Electoress had this Journey so much at heart, because she knew it wou'd give her the Pleasure of seeing a Mother whom she tenderly lov'd, as well as a Freedom, for some time at least, from the Constraint she was oblig'd to live in at _Berlin_, that she consented to the Count's Demand. Madame _de Wartemberg_ was admitted to the Circle, and all the Mortification the Electoress gave her, was always to talk to her in _French_, which being a Language she did not understand, plainly shew'd the Obscurity of the Countess's Birth; for at that Time all Persons of any Rank or Figure convers'd in that Language commonly at our Court. The Electoress's Condescension upon this Occasion is the only thing for which she was to blame; for 'twas a Precedent which gave others Authority to desire the same Favor; and to this may be said to be owing the unequal Matches which several of the n.o.bility made afterwards.

The Count _de Wartemberg_, in order to obtain the Elector's Consent, gave him to understand that the Princess his Consort cou'd do more than any body to prevail with the King of _England_ to recognize him for King. This was touching him in the most sensible part; and therefore he made no Scruple to let the Electoress go, who went and met her Mother at _Aix la Chapelle_, and from thence they set out afterwards for _Brussels_. There they stay'd a few days, in order to disguise the Motives of their Journey, and from thence they went to _Loo_, where the King of _England_ was. They each obtain'd of the Prince what they went to ask him; the House of _Hanover_ was soon after call'd to the Succession of the Crown of _England_, and the King gave his Promise, that as soon as the Emperor had own'd the Elector King of _Prussia_, he wou'd be one of the first to follow his Example.