8712. UNTERREDUNG DES KÖNIGS MIT DEM GROSSBRITANNISCHEN MINISTER MITCHELL.

[Dresden, 11. März 1757.]

Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse, Dresden 12. März (secret): „Yesterday the King of Prussia sent for me and told me, with some warmth, he had just received accounts from Hannover,361-2 which were very disagreeable, that the ministers there did not second the King's intentions, but declined making the necessary preparations for the army taking the field, and were still negociating a neutrality; that if he had not the highest opinion of the King's honour and good faith, he should on this occasion become suspicious.

I said I was persuaded the ministers at Hannover would soon receive final Orders to do every thing necessary with all possible expedition, but as they were not accustomed to military preparations, it could not be expected that they should act with the same alertness that Prussian gênerais did.

My answer did not satisfy, but it was all I could say, and the King of Prussia replied: « this matter must be cleared up instantly, it is of the greatest importance, and I désire to know the worst; I will Write to the King directly, and I hope you will send a Courier forthwith. » This I promised to do, and very late last night the letter to the King361-3 was sent to my house, which is here inclosed ...“

Mitchell schreibt an Holdernesse, Dresden 12. März (most private):361-4„The bomb has burst, I wonder it has held so long, we are all disgraced; the King of Prussia received last Thursday361-5 night by express from Hannover General Schmettau's report, which lays every thing open . . . There were some lively expressions which I have thought fit to surpress,361-6 such as: »it is hard to be the first betrayed by the very<362> people I have saved,362-1 and from whom I have drawn upon myself the arms of France, sure the King must be deceived by them, I trust to the good faith of the English nation, but never I can have confidence in the Hannoverians; if the King gives the command of this army to any Hannoverian, I know they will never do anything. I can not, will not depend upon them, Zastrow has neither capacity nor expérience, and at best is but a middling subaltern general.«“

Der Bericht an Holdernesse nach der Ausfertigung im Public Record Office, das Privatschreiben nach dem eigenhändigen Concept im British Museum zu London.


361-2 Vergl. Nr. 8711.

361-3 Nr. 8713.

361-4 Das Schreiben findet sich nicht unter den officiellen Berichten im Public Record Office, sondern nur unter den Privatschreiben Mitchells an Holdernesse. British Museum Addit. MSS. Vol. 6831. Auch das Concept ist eigenhändig von Mitchell.

361-5 10. März.

361-6 In dem oben im Auszuge mitgetheilten officiellen Berichte an Holdernesse.

362-1 Vergl. S. 361 Anm. 1.