The Project Gutenberg EBook of History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol.
XVII. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle

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Title: History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XVII. (of XXI.)
Frederick The Great--The Seven-Years War: First Campaign--1756-1757.

Author: Thomas Carlyle

Posting Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2117]
Release Date: March 2000

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. ***

Produced by D.R. Thompson

HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. OF PRUSSIA

FREDERICK THE GREAT

By Thomas Carlyle

Book XVII--THE SEVEN-YEARS WAR: FIRST CAMPAIGN.--1756-1757.

Chapter I.--WHAT FRIEDRICH HAD READ IN THE MENZEL DOCUMENTS.

The ill-informed world, entirely unaware of what Friedrich had been
studying and ascertaining, to his bitter sorrow, for four years past,
was extremely astonished at the part he took in those French-English
troubles; extremely provoked at his breaking out again into a Third
Silesian War, greater than all the others, and kindling all Europe in
such a way. The ill-informed world rang violently, then and long after,
with a Controversy, "Was it of his beginning, or Not of his beginning?"
Controversy, which may in our day be considered as settled by unanimous
mankind; finished forever; and can now have no interest for any
creature.

Omitting that, our problem is (were it possible in brief compass), To
set forth, by what authentic traits there are,--not the "ambitious,"
"audacious," voracious and highly condemnable Friedrich of the
Gazetteers,--but the thrice-intricately situated Friedrich of Fact. What
the Facts privately known to Friedrich were, in what manner known; and
how, in a more complex crisis than had yet been, Friedrich demeaned
himself: upon which latter point, and those cognate to it, readers ought
not to be ignorant, if now fallen indifferent on so many other points of
the Affair. What a loud-roaring, loose and empty matter is this tornado
of vociferation which men call "Public Opinion"! Tragically howling
round a man; who has to stand silent the while; and scan, wisely under
pain of death, the altogether inarticulate, dumb and inexorable mat