Er hat sonsten versichert, wie die österreichische Generalität jetzo unter sich von nichts anders sprächen, als dass in Zeiten von 2 à 3 Monat der Frieden gemachet sein, und sie in Böhmen zurück sein würden. Daher jeder solcher Herren Generals jetzo sich mit nichts anders als mit Arrangements occupireten, die sie in ihren domestiquen Sachen nach herstelletem Frieden machen wollten. In was vor Sinn sie nun solches meinen, solches muss ich dahingestellet sein lassen.
Eichel.
Auszug aus der Ausfertigung.
12018. UNTERREDUNGEN DES KÖNIGS MIT DEM GROSSBRITANNISCHEN GESANDTEN MITCHELL.
[Freiberg, April 1760.]
Mitchell berichtet an Holdernesse (secret) Freiberg 20. April:
„. . . . His Prussian Majesty thinks, from all the pourparlers ofMessieurs d'Affry and Saint-Germain at the Hague with General Yorke, it appears plainly that the French Ministry are divided in opinion; some were for peace, and others for continuing the war; but that it was impossible to conclude, from all they had yet said, what part they would take, and whether the hints about a peace were in earnest, or only thrown out to gain time. He said he was informed that the French were marching troops to reinforce Broglie's army; that, in this situation, he had thought proper to send by a special messenger into England his advice to the King's Ministers as to the proper means to be used to make the French speak out without loss of time; that, as their Councils were indecisive and their ministry divided, the readiest way to clear up matters was for England to begin immediately to execute the projects she had formed against France, as well in Europe as elsewhere; that the speedy and vigorous execution of these projects, and particularly the alarming their coasts at the same time with the apprehensions of descents, could not fail to raise great murmurings among the people — who were already tired of the war, — and might strengthen the hands of those Ministers who were disposed to peace.
In the course of this conversation, His Prussian Majesty told me that, in Order to rouse the pride and vanity of the French Ministers, he had taken care to insinuate, by different Channels, the poor and contemptible figure France made in the present war, in which they acted but a second and subaltern part, whilst the Court of Vienna guided and directed the whole; that he flattered himself these insinuations might have some effect, and not fail of piquing their pride, as he knew, by long experience, that the national vanity of being thought the first and only great power in Europe, was the ruling passion of all French Ministers.
I took the liberty to ask the King of Prussia if he had yet discovered the enemy's plan of operations for the ensuing campaign. He answered, he thought he had, but that he wanted sufficient force to